Shiv Sena (UBT) Labels Bihar’s Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana as “Voter Bribery Scheme” Ahead of Elections

Mumbai, Sept 2025 : The Shiv Sena (UBT) has strongly criticised the launch of Bihar’s Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, alleging that the scheme is merely a “voter bribery programme” designed to influence the upcoming state assembly elections.

In a hard-hitting editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Thackeray-led faction slammed the BJP for transferring Rs 10,000 each into the bank accounts of 75 lakh women, amounting to a staggering Rs 7,500 crore. The editorial claimed that the initiative is aimed at swaying voters through financial inducements rather than genuine economic empowerment.

The article questioned the role of constitutional bodies, asserting that both the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Supreme Court have turned a blind eye to such practices. “Every Indian should condemn this voter bribery scheme. It casts serious doubts over the transparency and fairness of elections. Using taxpayers’ money to buy votes undermines the very essence of democracy,” the editorial stated.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the ECI of acting shamelessly, suggesting that it, along with the Supreme Court, is serving the BJP by remaining silent on these actions. “If these constitutional bodies are functioning as ‘branches’ of the BJP, elections in India are merely a farce. The BJP-Nitish Kumar alliance appeared confident of victory, but opposition voices, including Rahul Gandhi, have challenged such manipulations in past elections. To counter this, Prime Minister Modi has allegedly resorted to buying votes using public funds,” it added.

The party further alleged that this cash transfer constitutes an economic crime, despite official claims that women can use the funds to set up businesses or small industries under the scheme. Of the 1.11 crore applicants, financial assistance has reportedly been approved for 75 lakh women. “With elections scheduled in Bihar in the next two months, distributing such funds right before polling is a clear attempt to buy votes. The Election Commission should have taken stringent action,” the editorial argued.

The editorial drew parallels with Maharashtra, where the BJP and its allies implemented the Ladki Bahin Yojana prior to state assembly elections, depositing Rs 1,500 into women’s accounts. The Thackeray camp alleged that this scheme strained the state’s finances, leaving no funds to aid flood-affected farmers in Marathwada. “Similarly, in Bihar, PM Modi has transferred Rs 10,000 to women’s accounts, claiming to provide rural employment. How can such a modest sum realistically generate industrial or employment opportunities?” the editorial questioned.

Shiv Sena (UBT) further accused the central government of prioritising electoral gains over public welfare. “Flood-affected farmers in Marathwada are yet to receive any aid, yet the government is giving Rs 10,000 to women in Bihar purely with electoral calculations in mind. This is looting the public treasury, and such actions by the Prime Minister amount to an economic crime,” the editorial said.

According to the party, these schemes are part of a broader strategy by the BJP to consolidate votes in crucial constituencies by exploiting government funds, raising serious concerns about the fairness of upcoming elections. The Thackeray camp concluded that the continued use of public money to influence voters threatens both economic stability and the integrity of India’s democratic process.