In a strategic move ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the Congress party has launched the 'Laapataa Ladies' campaign, inspired by the Kiran Rao-directed film of the same name. The campaign aims to highlight the perceived failures of the Eknath Shinde government, particularly concerning women's safety in the state.
Posters bearing the slogan 'Laapataa Ladies' have surfaced across Maharashtra, featuring the troubling statistic that "64,000 women are missing in a year" in Marathi. These posters also include silhouettes resembling Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, emphasizing the Congress party's critique of the current administration?s record on women's safety.
The title 'Laapataa Ladies' draws from the widely acclaimed film, which, released last year, humorously tackled themes of patriarchy. The film has since been selected as India?s official entry for the Oscars. By co-opting the film?s title, Congress aims to send a clear message about the government's inability to safeguard women in Maharashtra.
This campaign comes on the heels of the shocking sexual abuse case of two schoolgirls in Badlapur, which has sparked outrage across the state. The Congress campaign specifically targets Devendra Fadnavis, who oversees the Home Department in the state government. In an Assembly session last year, Fadnavis acknowledged that 10% of the women who go missing in Maharashtra do not return.
"Women's safety is a cause of concern for the country. In Maharashtra, around 64,000 girls and women go missing every year. During the Covid years of 2019 and 2020, the number remained consistent, and in 2021, 61,000 cases were registered. While 87% of them returned home in 2021, in 2022, the percentage was 86%. We are working to reduce these numbers further," Fadnavis stated. Congress has since used these figures to spotlight the government's record on women's safety.
In response to the rising concerns, the state government has launched the 'Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana,' a welfare initiative providing ?1,500 per month to eligible women aged 21-65 whose annual family income is less than ?2.5 lakh. This program is seen as an effort to counter the Congress campaign and appeal to female voters.
The upcoming election is set to be a fierce contest between the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance and the Opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which comprises Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar's NCP faction. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the MVA performed strongly, winning 30 out of Maharashtra?s 48 seats. The coalition hopes to continue this momentum in the state elections, while the ruling alliance will aim to retain power.
