Mumbai: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar added a new twist to the delay in the hike of the Ladki Bahin stipend which was promised in the Mahayuti alliance‘s poll manifesto by telling the state assembly on Thursday, “We will give the hike when the state’s condition improves.” The state is facing severe financial strain with a debt projection of Rs 9.3 crore for 2025-26, the highest in its history. One of the key reasons is its pre-poll sops, including the Ladki Bahin scheme which is set to cost Rs 36,000 crore in this financial year. In its poll manifesto, the Mahayuti had promised to hike the Ladki Bahin stipend from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 per month. In his first press conference after being sworn in, CM Devendra Fadnavis had said the govt would consider this in its first budget. However, there was no hike in the budget. State women and child welfare minister Aditi Tatkare said the state had made no promises on when the hike would be given and that it had five years to fulfil its manifesto. After the budget, Fadnavis said it was necessary to maintain financial discipline and that the hike would be given at a later stage. tnn