NEW DELHI: All India Mahila Congress chief Alka Lamba on Wednesday announced that women from deprived sections in Bihar will receive Rs 2,500 per month if the Mahagathbandhan alliance forms the next government in the state. The promise backs RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s ‘Mai Behan Maan’ scheme, first unveiled in February.Speaking at a press conference in Patna, Lamba criticised the NDA governments at the Centre and in Bihar, accusing them of neglecting women’s welfare. “The Congress and our Mahagathbandhan allies are committed to women’s empowerment. If we win the upcoming elections, Rs 2,500 per month will be directly transferred to eligible women by the state government,” she said, as per PTI.Lamba said the scheme will be implemented “immediately” after the alliance takes power, citing similar initiatives rolled out by Congress governments in Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh.To facilitate enrollment, party workers will distribute registration forms across the state. Additionally, a mobile number (8800023525) has been issued for women to register via missed call.Targeting the current Bihar administration, Lamba said, “The state is giving only Rs 400 to poor women, and even that is irregular. In rural Bihar, women are suffering, and crimes against them have gone up. Yet, the government remains a mute spectator.”Responding to questions on Tejashwi Yadav’s earlier announcement, Bihar Congress president Rajesh Ram clarified that ‘Mai Behan Maan’ is a joint Mahagathbandhan initiative. “It’s not a scheme of any one party. The decision was taken by our alliance’s coordination committee. All partners will work together to build voter awareness,” he said, as reported by PTI.Ram added that Congress was the first to implement this model in Karnataka and Himachal, and similar initiatives were run by the Mahagathbandhan government in Jharkhand.Reacting sharply to the announcement, BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar alleged that Mahagathbandhan parties are “fighting for credit” and “misleading voters.”In February, Tejashwi Yadav had promised Rs 2,500 per month to women if his party returned to power. He has also pledged 200 units of free electricity and LPG cylinders at Rs500, criticising Nitish Kumar’s leadership and accusing the government of corruption, unemployment and lawlessness.“The CM is tired. Retired officers are looting the treasury. Administrative anarchy prevails,” Yadav had said, adding that Bihar tops “all the wrong charts.”The announcement comes as political temperatures rise in the state ahead of the 2025 Assembly polls.