MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena, led by CM Eknath Shinde, one of the key parties in the Mahayuti alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Dy CM Ajit Pawar, has raised objections against the NCP and its chief, Ajit Pawar, for omitting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s name from advertisements and promotional materials for the 'Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.' This scheme aims to provide monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women in the age group of 21 to 60 years.

Shiv Sena’s state Excise Minister, Shambhuraj Desai, expressed disappointment, accusing Ajit Pawar of virtually “hijacking” the scheme by not using its full name, which includes 'Mukhyamantri' (Chief Minister). He said that not using the full name of the scheme during his (Mr. Pawar's) public outreach programs was not as per protocol.

Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, likely to be held in November, Ajit Pawar, who is also the state Finance Minister, last month launched his party's 'Jan Sanman Yatra,' a public outreach program. Its narrative is focused on the benefits of the financial assistance provided under the Ladki Bahin and other schemes.

The 'Ladli Behna Yojana' Maharashtra 2024 was launched on the lines of the 'Ladli Behna Yojana' in Madhya Pradesh by then-CM Shivraj Chouhan, and it became a ‘game-changer’ for the Bharatiya Janata Party, which won the state elections. Under the MP scheme, women are provided with financial assistance of Rs 1,250 every month.

For the past few weeks, leaders from the alliance partners have been making contentious statements against leaders of each other and NCP has specifically come under scanner leading to widespread speculation whether if everything in the ruling Mahayuti alliance was well? Although nothing can be ruled out in politics sources in the alliance parties say that everything is well and thus it appears that there is no immediate reason to worry.