The ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra is once again facing internal turbulence, this time over its flagship welfare initiative — the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana. A major political row has erupted after Shiv Sena leader and Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat publicly criticized the Finance Department, led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar of the NCP, for allegedly diverting ₹400 crore earmarked for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
The confrontation has not only exposed internal fault lines within the ruling coalition but also revived longstanding grievances over Ajit Pawar’s unilateral handling of state finances — a concern voiced by several Sena members since the inception of the alliance.
What is the Ladki Bahin Yojana?
The Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, launched soon after the Mahayuti coalition reclaimed power in December 2024, is a welfare scheme that offers financial support to women aged 21-60 across the state. Marketed as a landmark initiative aimed at empowering women from economically weaker sections, the scheme has been politically significant for the alliance, particularly in rural and semi-urban constituencies.
However, with Maharashtra’s rising debt burden — reportedly over ₹7 lakh crore — critics and insiders have questioned the long-term sustainability of the programme. The latest row has added fuel to those concerns.
Sena’s Outburst: “Wasn’t Even Informed”
Addressing the media, Sanjay Shirsat did not mince words. “I was not even informed that around ₹400 crore had been diverted from the Social Justice Department. I came to know about it from the media. If there is no need for the Social Justice Department, then it can very well be closed,” he said.
His remark reflects not just his personal outrage but also growing resentment among Shiv Sena ministers, who feel increasingly sidelined in fiscal decisions by the Finance Ministry, controlled by Ajit Pawar.
Underlying Grievances: A Pattern with Pawar
Though Ajit Pawar is now a part of the Mahayuti alliance after a political somersault in mid-2023, many Sena leaders remain wary of his methods. Accusations of centralizing control, bypassing departmental heads, and making opaque decisions have long dogged Pawar’s stints in government, including under previous UPA governments in the state.
Even before this latest controversy, tensions had been simmering over fund allocations, uneven budget distribution, and what Sena insiders describe as Pawar's "disproportionate influence" over key decisions.
Why SC/ST Fund Diversion is Especially Sensitive
The Social Justice Department oversees schemes intended to uplift historically marginalized communities — especially SCs and STs. Any fund diversion from this department is politically and socially sensitive.
Opposition leaders have already latched onto the controversy, accusing the Mahayuti government of prioritizing populist optics over genuine social welfare. "Taking away funds meant for Dalits and Adivasis to promote vote-bank schemes is unacceptable," said an MLA from the Congress party.
Ajit Pawar Yet to Respond
As of now, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has not issued any official statement responding to Shirsat’s allegations. However, sources close to the finance department suggest the fund reallocation was a temporary adjustment to ensure immediate rollout of the scheme, and that departments will be reimbursed in the revised budget.
That assurance, however, has done little to calm the political storm.
Mahayuti Unity at Risk?
The Mahayuti coalition — consisting of BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) — was formed with the intent to provide a stable, united alternative to the Uddhav Thackeray-led alliance. But over the past few months, frequent skirmishes over cabinet portfolios, development funds, and bureaucratic control have exposed internal fragility.
This latest episode over the Ladki Bahin Yojana threatens to deepen those divisions. Political analysts note that public criticism between ministers of the same alliance is unusual and damaging, especially so close to the budget session scheduled later this month.
What’s Next?
If not resolved diplomatically and quickly, the row could force Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to step in as a mediator. With major civic elections and bypolls around the corner, the Mahayuti leadership would be wary of letting the issue fester.
For now, the spotlight is firmly on Ajit Pawar’s handling of state finances and the delicate balancing act of running a coalition where competing ambitions and old rivalries often threaten to unravel the united front.