Sun Nov 24 21:00:02 UTC 2024: **Maharashtra’s Ruling Coalition Wins Big, Women Voters Play Key Role**

**Nagpur, Maharashtra – November 25, 2024** – The Mahayuti, a ruling coalition in Maharashtra, secured a decisive victory in the recent state assembly elections, with women voters emerging as a significant factor in their success. The coalition’s targeted outreach to women, particularly through the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana (Chief Minister Beloved Sisters Scheme), a direct benefit transfer program, appears to have yielded substantial results.

The scheme, which provides monthly financial assistance to women, saw over 80% of eligible women apply, according to Lokniti-CSDS data. This, coupled with a higher-than-average female voter turnout and a narrowing of the gender gap in voting participation, suggests a strong correlation between the scheme’s popularity and the Mahayuti’s victory. While the increase in female support for the coalition was a modest 3% higher than male support, rural women and those who applied for the scheme showed even greater support.

While previous studies indicated that women’s voting patterns in Maharashtra were largely influenced by regional politics, caste, and class, this election may suggest the emergence of a new constituency of women motivated by welfare benefits. However, researchers caution that it’s premature to definitively conclude that the Mahayuti’s win was solely due to the women’s vote, although their contribution was significant. Further analysis is needed to determine whether this election marks a shift in the established pattern of women’s voting behavior in the state.

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