Ladki Bahin Yojana: Will Maharashtra women get Rs 3,000 on Makar Sankranti as part of the next installment of the What the Election Commission Has to Say

Ladki Bahin Yojana: The State Election Commission has prohibited the Maharashtra government from paying the outstanding December and January advance installments of Rs 3,000 under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana program during the 2026 Maharashtra Municipal Corporation elections. Additionally, during the current model code of conduct period, the SEC has forbidden the government from registering new Ladki Bahin beneficiaries.

Nonetheless, the Commission has approved the payment of Rs 1,500 for December 2025 since the payment schedule was previously disclosed. The Commission issued these guidelines to guarantee adherence to the model code of conduct in light of upcoming local body polls, including BMC elections, which are set for January 15.

This followed a social media post by Shiv Sena politician Prakash Mahajan that prompted Congress General Secretary Adv. Sandesh Kondwilkar to submit a complaint. A day before to the election, the state administration, headed by Mayahuti, had already declared its intention to pay a total of Rs 3,000 for December 2025 and January 2026. However, it will be against the model code of behavior. Thus, during Makar Sankranti, ladies who are Ladki Bahin Yojana recipients may get Rs 1,500.

In a letter to the Election Commission, the Congress said that the action would sway more than one crore women voters and would persuade them to support candidates from the governing party on election day. The party said that it would be against the model code of conduct and described it as a kind of collective government bribery.