Mumbai: Wooing women voters in the Dahanu and Vikramgad assembly constituencies, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday reiterated that the Mahayuti alliance would increase monthly aid to underprivileged women under the Ladki Bahin scheme from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100. The deputy CM said the Ladki Bahin scheme, initiated by Mahayuti in Aug, will be discontinued if MVA comes to power.
Speaking at a gathering in Dahanu to support BJP candidate Vinod Medha (41), Fadnavis confirmed the planned increase in aid. Both Dahanu (1.51 lakh) and Vikramgad (1.59 lakh) constituencies have predominantly women voters.
Fadnavis said BJP will raise the annual farmer benefit from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 under Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana. He promised loan waiver and round-the-clock power supply, announcing plans for a dedicated company for free electricity to farmers.
While campaigning for Sulabha Gaikwad, he praised her husband, BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad for development work in Kalyan East. It may be recalled that Ganpat Gaikwad is in jail in the alleged case of firing at Shiv Sena’s Mahesh Gaikwad. The DCM described his govt as one that speeds up work and took a dig at the previous govt, calling it a govt that halts work. (With Pradeep Gupta)