The Mahayuti alliance rode on the promise of the Chief Minister’s Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana to secure women’s votes in the 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections. Under the scheme, women aged 21‑65 received a direct cash transfer of ₹1,500 per month, positioning the programme as a cornerstone of the coalition’s welfare narrative.

According to the 2024‑25 State Finances Audit Report released by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), the state allocated ₹29,693.09 crore to the scheme, yet the department recorded an actual outlay of ₹33,237.24 crore. This created an unexplained excess expenditure of ₹3,541.16 crore. The audit also highlighted that a large portion of the funds—₹15,586 crore drawn in Q1 2025—was transferred to a virtual personal deposit account (VPDA) rather than being spent on immediate programme needs, breaching basic budgetary discipline.

Further scrutiny revealed that over 9 million beneficiaries were delisted after verification. The majority (approximately 6.2 million) failed to complete the eKYC process, while others were disqualified for exceeding the annual income ceiling of ₹2.5 lakh, being government employees, crossing the age limit, or already receiving benefits from other schemes. The removed beneficiaries collectively received about ₹14,000 crore, which the state government says will be recovered from government employees and male recipients.

Opposition leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have launched a vigorous attack. Shiv Sena (Uddhav) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut labeled the scheme “the biggest malfeasance of the century” and alleged that treasury funds were used to purchase votes illegally. Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) spokesperson Anish Gawande echoed the sentiment, demanding CAG intervention and calling the deletions either large‑scale corruption or spectacular incompetence.

Historical Background

Women‑centred welfare programmes in Maharashtra trace back to the late 1990s, when the state introduced targeted cash transfers to improve female labour force participation. Over the next two decades, central initiatives such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana reinforced the model of direct cash assistance. In the 2024 elections, the Mahayuti coalition amplified this legacy, promising to increase the monthly benefit to ₹2,100 if it formed the government, thereby cementing the scheme’s political relevance.

Why This Matters (इसके मायने क्या हैं)

BozokMedia analysis shows that large‑scale fiscal irregularities erode public confidence and strain state finances, especially when they involve programmes that affect millions of women. The loss of financial discipline can slow economic growth, widen gender‑based inequities, and trigger social unrest.

Politically, the controversy may reshape voter sentiment ahead of the next state or national elections. Opposition parties are leveraging the audit findings to question the ruling coalition’s integrity, potentially influencing the next electoral narrative and prompting stricter oversight of welfare spending.

“Fiscal prudence is the backbone of any welfare scheme; unchecked overspend not only drains the treasury but also undermines democratic accountability.” – Financial analyst Dr. Anjali Mehta

Comparison Table

Metric	Allocated (₹ crore)	Actual Spend (₹ crore)
Ladki Bahin Scheme (2024‑25)	29,693.09	33,237.24
Beneficiaries (Peak)	24.3 million	15 million (Current)

Frequently Asked Questions (अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न)

• Question: Will the government recover the ₹14,000 crore given to ineligible beneficiaries?
  Answer: The state has announced recovery from government employees and male beneficiaries, but the process is still in its early stages.
• Question: Is there any prospect of reforming the Ladki Bahin scheme?
  Answer: Opposition parties have demanded CAG intervention, and a debate is expected in the upcoming monsoon session of the state legislature.