Kejriwal, CPI(M) say Delhi Lakshmi Yojana rules may exclude most women; BJP defends

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Monday alleged that the eligibility conditions for the Delhi Lakshmi Yojana are “restrictive” and could prevent more than 90% of women in the capital from receiving the monthly assistance of ₹2,500.

The scheme, announced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Delhi, opened for registrations on August 1. According to the official guidelines, applicants must obtain an endorsement letter from the Member of Parliament (MP) or Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of their constituency. Additionally, only one woman from each family is eligible, and applicants must have resided in Delhi for at least 10 years.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Kejriwal said the conditions indicate that the government’s intention is not to provide benefits but to play politics. “It is clear that they want to extend this benefit only to BJP supporters. The conditions they have imposed, including the requirement of 10 years’ residence and approval from their MP or MLA, show that their intention is not to provide the benefit but merely to play politics,” he said.

Drawing a contrast with Punjab, where the AAP is in power, Mr. Kejriwal claimed that no such conditions exist. “We made no distinction between the rich and the poor or on the basis of caste. Just as we are extending the benefit to everyone in Punjab with a clear and honest intent, they should do the same in Delhi if their intentions are genuine,” he added. He also said that in Punjab, if there are four women in a household, all of them receive assistance.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Delhi secretary Anurag Saxena also criticised the scheme, calling it a “political deception” rather than a measure for women’s economic empowerment. “The eligibility conditions and mandatory documentation make it evident that the scheme has been deliberately designed to restrict rather than expand access to benefits. The most objectionable provision is the requirement that every applicant must obtain a recommendation from the local MP or MLA,” he said.

Responding to the allegations, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said it was the previous AAP government that made the recommendation of MLAs mandatory for some schemes in 2018. He asserted that the BJP government will ensure that every eligible woman resident of Delhi receives the benefits of the scheme within the next three years.

The Delhi Lakshmi Yojana was a key promise made by the BJP during the 2025 Delhi assembly elections. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has been overseeing its implementation. The AAP, which ruled Delhi for over a decade before losing power, has been critical of the scheme's rollout. The CPI(M), a minor political force in Delhi, has also expressed concerns over the exclusionary nature of the eligibility criteria.

The controversy over the scheme's design has intensified the political rivalry between the AAP and the BJP in the capital. While the AAP alleges that the conditions are aimed at excluding non-BJP supporters, the BJP maintains that the norms are necessary to ensure transparent and targeted delivery of benefits. As registrations continue, the actual reach of the scheme will become clearer in the coming weeks.