Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra elections, the Congress has launched the ‘Laapataa Ladies’ campaign, inspired by the Kiran Rao-directed film, to criticize the Eknath Shinde government for its handling of women’s safety.
Posters Highlight Missing Women
Posters across Maharashtra bear the title “Laapataa Ladies” along with the alarming statement, “64,000 women missing in a year,” written in Marathi. The silhouettes of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar are also featured in the posters.
The campaign name draws from the movie Laapataa Ladies, which garnered praise for addressing patriarchy through its comedic narrative and was selected as India’s official Oscar entry.
Criticism Following Recent Incidents
The Congress campaign comes on the heels of a tragic case in Badlapur, where two schoolgirls were sexually abused. The campaign specifically targets Devendra Fadnavis, who is in charge of the Home Ministry in the state, emphasizing the government’s failure to ensure women’s safety.
Fadnavis’ Previous Statement on Missing Women
In a 2022 Assembly address, Fadnavis stated that 64,000 women and girls go missing in Maharashtra annually. Of these cases, 87% of the missing individuals returned in 2021, with 86% returning in 2022. He noted that efforts are being made to reduce these numbers, but concerns remain.
Government’s Response with New Scheme
To counter the criticism and reach out to female voters, the state government introduced the ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana,’ which provides ₹1,500 per month to eligible women aged 21-65 with family incomes below ₹2.5 lakh.
Tough Electoral Battle Ahead
The upcoming election presents a challenging contest between the ruling coalition—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar-led NCP—and the opposition alliance of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the opposition had a strong showing, winning 30 of Maharashtra’s 48 seats, setting the stage for an intense political battle in the state.