MUMBAI —The State Election Commission (SEC) of Maharashtra stepped in to bar the Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti government from releasing the January installment of the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme ahead of schedule On Monday January 12, 2026.
The intervention comes just three days before high-stakes elections for 29 municipal corporations, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), scheduled for Thursday, January 15.
1. The Controversy: A “Makar Sankranti Gift”
The issue began when BJP Minister Girish Mahajan announced that eligible women would receive a combined payment of ₹3,000 (covering December and January installments) by January 14, the day before the election. He termed it a “special gift” for the Makar Sankranti festival.
- SEC’s Stance: State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare ruled that while regular benefits can continue, advance payments intended to reach voters hours before polling are a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
- The Ruling: The state may only release the ₹1,500 due for December by January 14. The January installment must wait until after the voting is complete.
- New Beneficiaries: The SEC also explicitly prohibited the government from adding any new names to the scheme until the election process concludes on January 16.
2. Maharashtra Civic Polls 2026: Fast Facts
The upcoming elections are seen as a “mini-Assembly” battle, testing the strength of the Mahayuti alliance against the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
| Event | Details |
| Polling Date | Thursday, January 15, 2026 |
| Counting/Results | Friday, January 16, 2026 |
| Corporations | 29 (including BMC, Pune, Nashik, and Thane) |
| Public Holiday | Declared across all 29 corporation areas for Jan 15. |
| Key Alliances | Mahayuti (BJP, Shiv Sena-Shinde, NCP-Ajit Pawar) vs. MVA (Sena-UBT, Congress, NCP-SP). |
3. Political Reaction
The opposition Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) had filed multiple complaints with the SEC, accusing the ruling alliance of attempting to “bribe” over 2.5 crore women voters with public money.
“The state government was trying to play with the feelings of women. They didn’t pay for two months and wanted to trade it for votes. We welcome the SEC’s intervention.” — Sachin Sawant, Mumbai Congress spokesperson.
4. Understanding the ‘Ladki Bahin’ Scheme
Launched in mid-2024, the scheme provides ₹1,500 per month to women aged 18–65 with an annual family income below ₹2.5 lakh. It is widely credited for the Mahayuti’s landslide victory in the November 2024 Assembly elections, making its timing in the civic polls a sensitive issue.