As Women’s Day approaches, Delhi’s female voters await BJP’s promised Rs 2500 per month

Bharatiya Janata Party acknowledged the significant contribution of the women voters whose voting percentage exceeded their male counterparts by appointing Rekha Gupta as the fourth woman chief minister of Delhi. Now that Women’s Day is just around the corner, women concerning issues like safety and security and questions regarding the fulfilment of election promises are making rounds. 

Women constitute 45 percent of Delhi voters which amounts to approximately 72 lakh votes and Delhi’s electorate has witnessed a steady rise in women voters, with their participation shaping recent election results. 

Safety concerns and financial independence were no longer secondary but were central to the campaign strategies and every political party tried to woo them with freebies. BJP’s ₹2,500 monthly financial aid promise was one of the biggest promises made which is yet to be fulfilled. 

Apart from that, ₹21,000 for pregnant women, and access to better and cheaper health facilities were other promises made by the BJP.  The BJP had said the process for the roll of the scheme will start from March 8.

As the women voters are left wondering when they will receive the money, the Aam Aadmi Party playing the part of the opposition for the first time targeted the BJP government and questioned their intentions regarding the promise of monthly aid. AAP workers took a dig at BJP by showcasing demonstrations at ITO and various flyovers across Delhi, holding banners of “Bas 3 Din Aur”. 

Senior AAP leader Rituraj Jha stated, “PM Modi must answer when the promised funds would be deposited into women’s accounts. Across Delhi, from flyovers to foot overbridges, human banners are being formed, questioning the BJP and PM Modi about the ₹2,500 that was guaranteed for women.” 

Sanjay Kumar, who is a political analyst, commented on the issue raised by AAP and added, “Obviously all the promises made by the parties are mostly 'jumlas'. But at the same time, they need to fulfil those promises that were the highlight or else a lot of objections will be raised from the voters.”

He further added that having a women chief minister does give hope that the roads of Delhi will be safe to walk even at night and law and governance policy will be more inclined towards women welfare. “But at the same time, it is too soon to say what it's gonna be in the future”, he said. 

Both BJP and AAP’s election promises were similar and yet the former succeeded in attracting the women voters to its side. To this Kumar said, “AAP lost its credibility not only because of the corruption charges but also because their liquor policy eased the price of alcohol. Women are indirectly affected by the alcohol consumption of men in their homes. So this could also be the reason why BJP won.”

For women in Delhi, concerns extend beyond just financial aid and safety. Access to clean drinking water and managing the overall household budget are also pressing issues. 

Studies have shown that women voters carefully weigh which party can bring real and more tangible improvements to society and their families. This time, they have placed their trust in the BJP and are hopeful that the BJP government under the leadership of Rekha Gupta will make their voices heard. After all the saying also goes that, “only a woman can truly understand the struggles of another woman.”