In a bid to rally support for the upcoming Maharashtra elections, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde led three major public gatherings in Kalyan, Ambernath, and Kalyan Gramin on Tuesday. Campaigning for incumbent MLAs Vishwanath Bhoir, Balaji Kinikar, and candidate Rajesh More, Shinde underscored his government’s commitment to transformative development, pledging a substantial ₹2000 crore for Kalyan’s infrastructure and growth.
Acknowledging BJP’s independent candidates Varun Patil and Narendra Pawar, who withdrew after initially contesting due to lack of a party ticket, Shinde expressed gratitude for their “gracious decision,” which he believes strengthens the alliance’s united front in the region. He drew a stark contrast between the funding allocations under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which allocated only ₹21 crore for Kalyan’s development, and the Mahayuti government’s recent allocation of over ₹2000 crore. According to Shinde, “The reason for leaving the MVA was because it was leading Maharashtra into a state of deterioration. Under our Mahayuti government, we have restored Maharashtra’s rank as the top state in GDP and business investment in just six months.”
Shinde further took aim at the MVA, criticizing the previous government for stalling key development projects and “closing temples and festivals.” He emphasized that the Mahayuti government is firmly dedicated to “development and social welfare,” outlining a comprehensive plan to improve the lives of Maharashtra’s citizens. This includes bolstering the “Ladki Bahin Yojana” program by raising its monthly assistance from ₹1500 to ₹2100, recruiting 25,000 female police officers, waiving farm debts, and ensuring food security by stabilizing essential commodity prices for the next five years. Shinde also highlighted the government’s plans to create 25 lakh job opportunities across the state, increase pensions for senior citizens, and raise the monthly allowances of Anganwadi and Asha workers to ₹15,000.
With these rallies, CM Shinde is positioning the Mahayuti government as a leader in delivering robust infrastructure projects and social reforms, asserting that their approach to governance “will propel Maharashtra to new heights.” As Election Day approaches on November 20, Shinde’s ambitious promises signal the Mahayuti government’s resolve to capture widespread voter support across Maharashtra.