Key Takeaways
- The BJP is poised for a fifth consecutive victory in Madhya Pradesh.
- Welfare schemes such as Ladli Lakshmi and Ladli Behna have boosted support among women voters.
- Shivraj Singh Chouhan, affectionately called “Mama”, leads the party with strong grassroots appeal.
- The BJP currently holds 83 seats, while the Congress trails with 21 seats in the state assembly.
With the BJP leading the voting trends in Madhya Pradesh, it is clear that the party is moving towards a massive victory in the state. With the fifth consecutive victory of the party in the state bound to take place, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan or ‘Mama’ (maternal uncle), as he is called lovingly by his supporters, has proved his leadership skills yet again.
The alias ‘Mama’ is used for Chouhan because of the various welfare schemes launched by his government, for the welfare and upliftment of women and girl children.
These welfare initiatives like the Ladli Lakshmi and the Ladli Behna schemes have proven to be a nodal factor behind the fifth consecutive victory of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh.
It was just months before the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha polls in 2023 that the Ladli Behna Yojana was launched by the Shivraj government, resulting in a landslide BJP win.
The scheme, implemented statewide on January 28, 2023, aims to enhance the economic self‑reliance of women across the state.
Under this scheme, the women of the state receive financial assistance of Rs 1000 every month. The scheme is meant for married women between the age of 23 and 60, this also includes widows, divorcees, separated, and abandoned women. Apart from this, under the Ladli Lakshmi Yojana, the state government purchases National Saving Certificates, each valued at Rs 6000, annually, for five years. Then upon admission to the sixth standard, an initial sum of Rs 2000 is provided to the eligible girl child, followed by another Rs 4000 upon reaching the ninth standard.
Throughout the girl child’s educational journey, the financial assistance provided by the state government continues to grow, and she receives Rs 7500 upon entering the 11th standard. During her higher secondary education, a monthly stipend of Rs 200 is provided, and as she reaches the age of 21, approximately 1 lakh Rs are received by her.
Currently, the BJP has won 83 seats in MP, and is leading on 81 seats. On the other hand, the Congress has won 21 seats, and is leading on 44 seats.
