Nagpur, January 11 (HS): Maharashtra minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Sunday hit out at the Congress, accusing the party of being “anti-women” for writing to the State Election Commission seeking a halt to payments under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme until after the civic polls.

Speaking to reporters, the state revenue minister said the welfare scheme, launched in 2024, does not violate the model code of conduct, which is currently in force for the January 15 municipal corporation elections. He said stopping the monthly stipend would adversely affect women beneficiaries and termed the Congress move as politically motivated.

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) had on Saturday urged the State Election Commission to direct the government to release the December 2025 and January instalments of the scheme only after the municipal elections. The party argued that releasing the payments ahead of the polls could influence more than one crore women beneficiaries.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar