1. BJP’s victory in Madhya Pradesh linked to Ladli Behna and Mahtari Vandan schemes.
2. Schemes mirror Assam’s successful Arunodoi initiative.
3. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma played a key role in shaping these schemes and influencing election results.
Guwahati, Dec 03: The success of the BJP in the recent Madhya Pradesh assembly polls seems to be attributed to the Ladli Behna and Mahtari Vandan schemes, echoing the Assam government’s Arunodoi scheme. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma played a pivotal role in influencing these schemes and, subsequently, the electoral outcome.
Before the launch of the Ladli Behna scheme, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Madhya Pradesh multiple times and held meetings with his counterpart Shivraj Singh Chauhan. Assam government officials also made presentations to their Madhya Pradesh counterparts, and video conferences were conducted between the two states before the Madhya Pradesh state budget was finalized.
The Ladli Behna Yojana in Madhya Pradesh, launched on January 28, provides financial assistance of Rs 1250 to eligible women through Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfer (DBT) enabled bank accounts.
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Chhattisgarh’s Mahtari Vandan Yojana, a key BJP election plank, promises to pay Rs 1000 to every eligible married woman.
Comparatively, Assam’s Arunodoi scheme, launched on October 2, 2020, serves as the prototype for Ladli Behna and Mahtari Vandan. The Arunodoi scheme provides financial aid of Rs 1250 to women, covering health expenses and offering additional benefits.
The BJP’s success in Madhya Pradesh, as indicated by current counting trends, and its competitive position against the Congress in Chhattisgarh suggest a significant shift in female voters’ preferences, favoring the saffron party.
The Arunodoi scheme played a crucial role in reshaping the voting patterns of female voters in Assam during the 2022 state elections, contributing to the BJP’s landslide victory and the appointment of Himanta Biswa Sarma as Chief Minister.
Himanta Biswa Sarma’s active involvement as a star campaigner in the recent elections across Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, attending 79 rallies, underscores his significant role within the BJP. This, coupled with the party’s success in states where schemes inspired by Assam’s Arunodoi have been implemented, indicates Sarma’s growing influence within the saffron party.
