2025 Delhi Dangal: Will Cash Incentives for Women Influence Election Outcomes?

New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress) The Election Commission (EC) has unveiled the timeline for the Delhi Assembly elections on Tuesday, paving the way for an electrifying tri-cornered showdown among the ruling AAP, the Opposition BJP, and Congress on February 5.

This revelation regarding the polling dates will undoubtedly escalate campaigning and the electoral blitz by top leaders of each party, as they strive to garner public approval.

Under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, AAP aims to secure its third consecutive term, while the BJP is launching an assertive campaign for a comeback. Simultaneously, Congress is intensifying its attack against AAP, the party it partnered with during the recent Lok Sabha elections.

As the political contest heats up, women voters have emerged as a focal point, with all major parties vying for their support through various electoral incentives.

AAP National Convenor Kejriwal recently introduced the 'Mahila Samman Yojana', which promises financial aid of Rs 1,000 per month to women in the national capital, a figure that he claims will increase to Rs 2,100 if his party is re-elected.

Congress has rolled out the 'Pyari Didi Yojana', offering a monthly amount of Rs 2,100.

Reports indicate that the BJP is also set to propose a comparable financial assistance plan, potentially providing Rs 2,500 per month.

Some sources suggest that the initial concept for monthly support for women in the capital originated from the BJP but was 'leaked', allowing the ruling AAP to quickly capitalize by launching the 'Mahila Samman Yojana'.

Indeed, women voters have increasingly influenced election outcomes in recent times, with parties relying on their backing experiencing favorable results.

Instances from other states, where elections have revolved around women's issues and their financial empowerment, offer valuable insights into this trend.

In the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election of 2023, the 'Ladli Behna Yojana' proved to be a pivotal factor for the BJP government led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, enabling him to maintain power despite facing three terms of anti-incumbency.

This initiative provided a monthly financial subsidy of Rs 1,250 to women aged between 23 and 60 years. The BJP's surprising performance in the Assembly elections caught pollsters and analysts off guard, as it improved its tally from 110 seats in 2018 to 163 out of 230.

In Jharkhand and Maharashtra, recent elections also saw women-centric programs dominating electoral narratives and party strategies.

In Jharkhand, the Hemant Soren-led government faced significant anti-incumbency and various corruption allegations, yet the BJP turned JMM-sponsored corruption into a major campaign issue to unseat the current administration. Political analysts believe that JMM's financial scheme for women proved crucial in its hard-fought election, allowing the party to secure a second consecutive term.

In August 2023, the Soren government pledged Rs 1,000 monthly assistance for women aged between 18 and 50 in the Antyodaya category, with promises to increase it to Rs 2,500 if re-elected.

The election results saw the JMM achieving even greater success than five years prior.

In Maharashtra, the MahaYuti coalition consisting of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP experienced a significant decline in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, in July, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced the 'Laadki Bahin Yojana', offering Rs 1,500 monthly assistance to one woman per family with an annual household income below Rs 2.5 lakh.

The MahaYuti's campaign centered around the 'Laadki Bahin Yojana' and other issues. Despite heavy criticism from the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA), the initiative resonated well with voters, prompting the latter to promise Rs 3,000 monthly assistance for women in its manifesto.

The outcome was astonishing, as the BJP and its MahaYuti allies achieved their best-ever performance in Maharashtra.