The Maharashtra Election Commission has directed the state government to stop the transfer of money under the Mukhyamantri–Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana just a day before voting for civic body elections across the state.
The decision came after the Congress and other opposition parties raised objections over the timing of the payments. They alleged that releasing funds on the eve of polling could influence voters and would be a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which comes into force once elections are announced.
At the centre of the controversy was the state government’s plan to credit two instalments of the scheme — for December 2025 and January 2026 — into beneficiaries’ bank accounts on January 14. The total amount to be transferred was Rs 3,000 per beneficiary, scheduled barely 24 hours before polling. 
The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee submitted a formal representation to the State Election Commission, urging it to intervene and stop the fund disbursal until voting was completed. The party argued that transferring benefits at the last moment amounted to inducement, especially given the wide reach of the scheme among women voters. Congress leaders described the move as unfair and said welfare payments should not coincide with active election periods.
Following the complaint, the election panel stepped in and ordered an immediate halt to the transfers, citing the need to ensure a level playing field during elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti government, however, rejected the allegations. State Revenue Minister and Nagpur guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the Ladki Bahin Yojana was a regular welfare programme and had no connection with the civic polls.
He stated that the scheme was launched well before the election schedule and stopping payments would unfairly affect beneficiaries across the state. He also accused the Congress of opposing the programme from the beginning, alleging that former MPCC president Nana Patole had earlier attempted to block the scheme through legal means.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders maintained that welfare schemes cannot be paused repeatedly due to elections, while Congress insisted that electoral rules must be strictly followed. The issue has added to the political tension ahead of the municipal polls, even as the Election Commission’s order has put the payments on hold for now.
