MUMBAI, The Bharatiya Janata Party is poised to retain power in Madhya Pradesh, with a significant contribution from the women of the state, promised to be made ‘lakhpatis’ by the saffron party.
The BJP is on track to secure victory in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, expected to win two-thirds of the 230-seat assembly.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan attributed the BJP’s triumph to the people’s “immense and irrefutable faith” in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ‘double-engine government’ power, and the ‘Ladli Lakshmi’ to ‘Ladli Behna’ schemes.
The ‘ladlis’ of Madhya Pradesh, who cast their votes, deserve credit.
In March 2023, Chauhan launched the Ladli Behna Yojana, providing Rs 1,000 per month to women over 23. The scheme expanded in June, lowering the age threshold to 21 and increasing the monthly amount to Rs 3,000 from the next year.
Additionally, the Ladli Laxmi Yojana raised financial assistance for females up to 21 by 40 percent to Rs 2 lakh.
Cost of Schemes
As per the Madhya Pradesh Budget for 2023-24, Rs 8,000 crore was allocated for Ladli Behna Yojana and Rs 929 crore for Ladli Laxmi Yojana. The combined annual allocation for these schemes is set to increase to just under Rs 20,500 crore.
Challenges lie ahead for the state’s finances as other pre-poll promises, including LPG cylinders for Rs 450, free education from “KG to PG,” and Rs 1,200 annual financial assistance, add to the financial burden.
Madhya Pradesh’s fiscal position is already fragile, identified by the RBI among the 10 states with the highest debt burden. Balancing these commitments while managing the fiscal deficit remains a delicate task.
