In the aftermath of their Lok Sabha debacle, the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra has initiated a course correction ahead of the upcoming state elections.
Following a strategy akin to Shivraj Singh Chouhan's successful tactics in Madhya Pradesh, the coalition is making populist announcements to appeal to key voter demographics.
Maharashtra's Finance Minister, Ajit Pawar, presented a budget focused on women, youth, and farmers, aiming to replicate the formula that helped Chouhan win the Madhya Pradesh assembly election.
advertisementKey announcements made in the budget:Ladli Behna-inspired scheme in MaharashtraInspired by the ‘Ladli Behna’ Scheme launched in Madhya Pradesh in March 2023, the Maharashtra government has introduced a similar initiative.
In contrast, the Ladli Behna scheme in Madhya Pradesh took three months to implement after its announcement.
In the aftermath of their Lok Sabha debacle, the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra has initiated a course correction ahead of the upcoming state elections. Following a strategy akin to Shivraj Singh Chouhan's successful tactics in Madhya Pradesh, the coalition is making populist announcements to appeal to key voter demographics.
Maharashtra's Finance Minister, Ajit Pawar, presented a budget focused on women, youth, and farmers, aiming to replicate the formula that helped Chouhan win the Madhya Pradesh assembly election.
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Key announcements made in the budget:
Ladli Behna-inspired scheme in Maharashtra
Inspired by the ‘Ladli Behna’ Scheme launched in Madhya Pradesh in March 2023, the Maharashtra government has introduced a similar initiative. Under this scheme, economically disadvantaged women aged 21 to 60 will receive Rs 1,500 per month. The budget provision for this scheme is Rs 46,000 crore.
Relief for Farmers
Electricity bills for pumps used for irrigation will be waived. Farmers growing soybeans and cotton, who did not receive expected prices for their produce, will be compensated. The government will provide Rs 5,000 per hectare, up to two hectares.
During the Lok Sabha polls, farmers were seen to be notably upset with the Mahayuti alliance over a horde of issues they were facing, including delays in lifting the export ban on onions, which significantly impacted their earnings.
The government has now announced specific measures to support onion farmers who have been particularly affected by the export ban.
Apart from this, to boost agricultural productivity, the budget includes the approval and initiation of 108 stalled irrigation projects.
Free Education for Female Students
The budget promises free education for women students, aiming to promote female literacy and empowerment.
Why the populist measures?
The Mahayuti government is under pressure as Maharashtra's assembly elections are expected in October. The Lok Sabha elections saw Mahayuti reduced to just 17 seats, with the remaining seats won by the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The lack of new, appealing announcements in their campaign speeches was seen as a significant factor in their poor performance. This new budget aims to correct that by introducing fresh schemes to attract voters.
One of the most interesting aspects of this budget is the promise to implement these schemes from July, just days after their announcement. In contrast, the Ladli Behna scheme in Madhya Pradesh took three months to implement after its announcement.
The expedited timeline in Maharashtra presents a considerable challenge for the government.
Maharashtra's financial health has been a cause for concern, with the state's budget already in deficit. Revenue receipts are low, while expenditure remains high, pushing the fiscal deficit to almost 3 per cent.
The impact of these new schemes on voters, given the state's strained finances, remains to be seen.
Published By: Anuja Jha Published On: Jun 28, 2024
