In a scathing critique, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has accused the Maharashtra government of exploiting the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme for electoral gains. His comments, published on the front page of Shiv Sena's mouthpiece Samana, allege that the ruling party, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, is using the scheme as a tool to garner votes ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

Raut's criticism centers on the timing of the scheme's announcement, which he claims was made with the elections in sight. He suggests that the government, after facing defeat in the recent Lok Sabha elections, suddenly remembered its "beloved sisters" in a desperate attempt to win back voter support. "In fact, during the Mindhe government, many beloved sisters were subjected to injustice and oppression," Raut stated, pointing to various instances where women supporters of Shiv Sena were allegedly targeted by the government.

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The most pointed allegation from Raut came against MLA Ravi Rana, whom he accused of openly threatening voters in Amravati. According to Raut, Rana warned the constituents that if they did not vote for him in the upcoming elections, he would withdraw the Rs 1,500 provided under the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme. "This is a threat," Raut asserted, adding that Rana has lost his balance since his wife, Navneet Rana, was defeated by the voters of Amravati.

Raut further lambasted the ruling party, questioning the justice of offering Rs 1,500 to "helpless beloved sisters" while allegedly spending crores to secure defectors and political loyalty. He argued that the money used in the scheme belongs to the government, not any individual leader, and accused the ruling party of seeking votes in exchange for the scheme's benefits.

He also called for the Election Commission to take serious note of the alleged misuse of the scheme for electoral purposes. Raut warned that the government's true intentions had been exposed and predicted that the ruling party would face defeat in the upcoming assembly elections, with the "beloved sisters" delivering their own form of justice at the polls.

Raut urged the sisters of Maharashtra to accept the Rs 1,500 for now but assured them that this amount would be significantly increased once the Thackeray-led government returns to power. He condemned the government's actions, particularly Ravi Rana's threats, as an insult to the women of Maharashtra and expressed confidence that the state's women would take "proper revenge" for this insult when the time comes.