80 Lakh Women Excluded From Ladki Bahin Scheme After e-KYC Deadline Sparks Political Row

Around 80 lakh women have reportedly become ineligible under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin scheme in Maharashtra following the completion of the e-KYC deadline, triggering a fresh political row with the Opposition alleging a financial crisis in the state government.

According to official data, the number of beneficiaries under the scheme has dropped from around 2.4 crore to nearly 1.7 crore after the April 30 e-KYC deadline. The government had provided an eight-month window for beneficiaries to complete verification in order to continue receiving monthly assistance of ₹1,500 .

A senior official said the exclusions were not based solely on e-KYC non-compliance. Around 50–55 lakh women reportedly failed to complete the process despite repeated reminders. A further segment corrected errors during the window. In addition, nearly 12 lakh beneficiaries were found to be income-tax payers exceeding the annual income ceiling of ₹2.5 lakh, while over 4.5 lakh women crossed the upper age limit of 65 years . Around five lakh women were already receiving benefits under the Namo Shetkari scheme , making them ineligible for duplicate financial assistance.

The government has rejected Opposition claims that the large-scale drop in beneficiaries is linked to a fiscal crisis , stating that eligibility verification is a routine administrative exercise and not a move to reduce expenditure. Officials also said the final beneficiary list is still being cross-verified and will be confirmed within a week. Complaints regarding delayed or missed instalments are also under review.

The scheme itself, launched with significant publicity ahead of the state elections, has faced recurring political controversy since inception. Opposition parties have previously questioned its implementation, timing, and beneficiary verification process. There have also been broader political allegations in public discourse that large welfare schemes are sometimes misused, improperly targeted, or subject to diversion of funds , though no official findings have confirmed such claims in this case.

Opposition leaders have intensified their attack following the latest exclusions. NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil alleged that the removal of beneficiaries reflects a deepening financial strain in the state and accused the government of gradually scaling down welfare commitments after electoral gains. Rohit Pawar claimed that beneficiaries are being removed in phases, suggesting an attempt to eventually discontinue the scheme.

Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the ruling Mahayuti alliance of using the scheme for electoral benefit and later distancing itself from its promises. NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule said the large-scale exclusions indicate a serious administrative and planning failure , questioning how such a large number of beneficiaries were included without proper verification. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also termed the programme poorly designed and inconsistently implemented.

The issue has now escalated into a major political confrontation between the ruling coalition and the Opposition, with questions being raised over both the financial sustainability of the scheme and the credibility of its implementation process.