Congress Launches ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Campaign, As the Maharashtra assembly elections draw near, the Congress party has launched an eye-catching campaign titled ‘Laapataa Ladies’, a strategic move aimed at highlighting the state government’s perceived failure on women’s safety. Inspired by the Kiran Rao-directed film of the same name, this campaign seeks to hold Eknath Shinde’s government accountable for the alarming issue of missing women in Maharashtra.
Across the state, Congress Launches ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Campaign, large posters have surfaced bearing the words “Laapataa Ladies” (Missing Ladies) in bold, accompanied by a striking statistic: “64,000 women missing in a year”. These posters also feature silhouettes resembling the key figures of Maharashtra’s government—Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. The Congress is leveraging this campaign to bring the issue of women’s safety to the forefront of the election debate, with a particular focus on Devendra Fadnavis, who manages the Home portfolio in the current administration.
The ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Campaign
Congress Launches ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Campaign, The campaign borrows its name from the critically acclaimed film Laapataa Ladies, released last year. The movie garnered widespread praise for its bold message against patriarchy, delivered through the lens of comedy-drama. The film’s impact was so significant that it was selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars. The Congress party aims to use the popularity of the film to draw attention to the serious issue of missing women in Maharashtra, while indirectly holding the state government responsible for its failure to ensure women’s safety.
According to the Congress, the timing of the campaign is crucial, Congress Launches ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Campaign, given the backdrop of a recent horrific incident in Badlapur, Maharashtra. In the tragic case, two schoolgirls were victims of sexual abuse, an incident that deeply shook the state. The Congress hopes to strike a chord with voters by emphasizing the deteriorating safety conditions for women under the Mahayuti government, led by Shinde and Fadnavis.
Devendra Fadnavis’ Acknowledgment of the Issue
Interestingly, the numbers cited in the Congress campaign come directly from Devendra Fadnavis himself. In a statement addressing the Maharashtra Assembly in August last year, Fadnavis revealed that 10% of women who go missing in the state do not return home. He further elaborated that on average, 64,000 women go missing each year in Maharashtra.
Fadnavis acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, stating, “Women’s safety is a cause of concern for the country. In Maharashtra, around 64,000 girls and women go missing every year. During Covid in 2019 and 2020, the number was the same. In 2021, 61,000 cases were registered. Of these, 87% have returned home. In 2022, 86% of the missing women and girls have returned. We are taking steps to reduce these numbers.”
Despite these assurances, the Congress is using the same statistics to criticize the Maharashtra government and call attention to what they believe is a systemic failure in safeguarding women.
Targeting the Mahayuti Government
By focusing on these numbers, the Congress is directly targeting the Mahayuti government, a coalition between the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction. The Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bloc, which includes Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction, hopes to galvanize support by positioning themselves as champions of women’s safety in Maharashtra.
To counter this narrative, the Maharashtra government has launched the ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’, a scheme aimed at empowering women economically. Under this program, eligible women between the ages of 21 and 65 will receive a monthly allowance of ₹1,500 if their family income is less than ₹2.5 lakh per year. This initiative is designed to appeal to women voters, offering them financial support in the lead-up to the elections.
A Pivotal Election for Maharashtra
The upcoming election is set to be a critical battle between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The stakes are high, as the election could determine the future political landscape of Maharashtra.
In the Lok Sabha elections held four months ago, the opposition bloc made significant gains, winning 30 out of 48 seats in the state. This impressive showing has given the Congress and its allies momentum, and they hope to build on this success in the state elections.
However, the ruling Mahayuti coalition, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction, is determined to reclaim its political dominance in the state. The election will likely be a fierce contest, with both sides focusing on key issues like women’s safety, economic development, and governance.
The Congress launches ‘Laapataa Ladies’ campaign is a bold move to bring the issue of women’s safety to the forefront of the Maharashtra election. By highlighting the alarming statistic of 64,000 missing women, the party seeks to hold the Eknath Shinde government accountable for its performance on this crucial issue. With a tough election ahead, both the ruling Mahayuti coalition and the opposition MVA bloc will be vying for the support of women voters, making women’s safety a pivotal topic in the upcoming political battle.