State of Odisha, in news for its hottest debates regarding its flagship welfare program: Subhadra Yojana. In Odisha’s capital city of Bhubaneswar, Congress Party launched an aggressive attack against its ruling BJP government alleging they used sub-sales of Subhadra Yojana for voter influence ahead of an important Nuapada by-election scheduled on November 11, 2025 thus adding fuel to an already heated political atmosphere which had opposition parties questioning both its dedication to women’s empowerment efforts as well as any electoral gains.
Issues center around possible violations to the Model Code of Conduct through Subhadra Shakti gatherings organized by Pravati Parida as the Deputy Chief Minister and which are accused by Congress as being used for political gain and not legitimate welfare events. Congress views these allegations with particular concern during their campaigning for Nuapada by-election contest as raising serious concerns regarding where exactly political campaigns and governance intersect in democratic processes.
Odisha Political Storm
One of the primary points of contention against the BJP lies with their apparent violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), which went into effect on 5 October 2025, in Nuapada by-elections. Congress spokesperson Sonali Sahu has specifically named Pravati Parida over her conduct of Subhadra Shakti gatherings held throughout Nuapada District which directly breach electoral rules; she organized Subhadra Shakti gatherings while campaigning ahead of important by-elections to influence voters ahead of critical by-elections before those elections were due to take place.
BJD is joining Congress in raising similar concerns by submitting an official memo to Chief of Electoral Office RS Gopalan, alleging that Subhadra Shakti Samabesh which included Pravati Parida, Jay Dholakia (BJP Candidate for Bengal Assembly election), other party members and Pravati Parida herself was used as a platform to advance political campaigns. According to BJD’s complaint, this gathering compromised impartiality of electoral process as it altered competition elections commission seeks to maintain.
Subhadra Yojana Current Situation Overview
| Aspect | Details |
| Primary Accusation | Congress alleges BJP is misusing Subhadra Yojana to influence Nuapada by-election voters through unauthorized gatherings |
| Election Date | November 11, 2025 (Nuapada Assembly by-election) |
| Key Allegations | Model Code violation, exclusion of 20,000 girl students, political campaigning under welfare scheme guise |
| BJP Response | Denies all charges, claims gatherings are legitimate party events, not government programs |
| Excluded Beneficiaries | Over 18,000 SC/ST students with scholarships exceeding Rs 18,000 annually |
| Election Commission Action | Model Code of Conduct enforced since October 5, 2025; BJP and BJD complaints under review |
| Official Website | https://subhadra.odisha.gov.in/ |
Subhadra Yojana Exclusion of Eligible Beneficiaries
Congress has raised grave concerns over the systematic exclusions of beneficiaries eligible for Subhadra Yojana benefits. Sonali Sahu claimed that nearly 22,000 girls have been arbitrarily disenrolled from this scheme in Nuapada district alone. More specifically, 18000 SC and ST girl students receiving scholarships of 18,000 rupees or greater annually and who do not meet eligibility criteria were removed from benefits under Subhadra Yojana.
Congress spokesperson asked how the deputy chief minister managed to organize Subhadra Shakti Sammelans when thousands of girls who are eligible students were left off the list of applicants. This suggests a deliberate attempt at manipulating beneficiary lists for political gain; perhaps targeting particular communities or regions based on their voting patterns.
BJP’s Response and Defense
Denial of Misconduct
It should come as no surprise that BJP has consistently denied any allegations that the Subhadra Yojana was used to fund electoral campaigns. They insist the gatherings hosted by Subhadra were held exclusively within party offices, thus not violating the Model Code of Conduct. BJP leadership have described Congress critics as being persistent “false accusers”, dismissing their criticisms as an attempt at political gain.
The ruling party believes these are legitimate party events that aim to inform beneficiaries about the benefits of the scheme, without incurring any use of government resources or equipment. They further claim that hosting these gatherings in party offices and using party funds does not breach election regulations.
Defending Scheme Implementation
It is crucial to recognize why the BJP government has consistently supported Subhadra Yojana as the largest cash incentive program for women across the state. Pravati Parida, deputy chief minister and woman legislator has consistently stated that this scheme represents genuine initiatives to empower women compared with former BJD government’s strategy of treating women like an election bank. Furthermore, their party claims their dedication to women’s wellbeing by allocating significant funds and systemically implementing this program.
Financial Disparities and Comparisons
Scheme Benefits Comparison
Comparison of Scheme Benefits It has come to the attention of Congress that Odisha’s government has been severely criticized by them, for providing much lower levels of financial assistance compared to other states. Sonali Sahu’s analysis indicates that women living in Odisha receive only 833 rupees through Subhadra Yojana per month – much lower than other states who offer at least three times this sum per month: Delhi offers monthly salaries of Rs 2,500 as do Madhya Pradesh (1250 Rupees per month); Maharashtra (1300); Jharkhand (3300 rupees and West Bengal 1200 rupees respectively)
Congress members have expressed doubt as to whether Odia women deserve substantial financial aid, believing this disparity to be caused by the BJP government’s lack of concern for women’s welfare, suggesting this program merely exists to benefit politicos instead of actually empowering them meaningfully.
Promise vs Reality Debate
It is vital to remain mindful of the ongoing debate between the BJP’s initial campaign promises versus how they implemented Subhadra Yojana. Opposition parties such as BJD and Congress claimed the BJP promised Rs 50,000 vouchers which would be disbursed over two years, yet instead implemented a scheme where Rs 10,000 per year over five years is dispersed via two payments of Rs 5,000 each installment – leading to allegations of electoral fraud as well as voter deceit during their campaigns. This has resulted in claims of electoral fraud as well as deliberate deceit during campaigns by candidates to deceive voters during campaigns – creating allegations of electoral fraud as well as deliberate voter deception during campaigns.
BJP politicians claim their current approach to women’s welfare provides long-term and sustainable benefits rather than one-off payments, however some critics see this shift from their original promise as betraying their mandate and vote they won.
The allegations against the BJP government regarding their misuse of Subhadra Yojana scheme is an essential political debate that reveals the intricate relationship between electoral and welfare policies in modern Indian democracy. When observed closely, it becomes apparent that this issue transcends immediate election issues to address more fundamental questions regarding ethics in governance, fairness in elections and appropriate limits of political campaigning. Furthermore, it has exposed deep divisions both between governing BJP and opposition parties as well as questions surrounding accessibility and effectiveness of welfare programs meant to assist marginalized communities.
Nuapada by-election results and its investigation could be pivotal in shaping how political parties administer welfare plans during elections, setting precedents that facilitate maintaining balance between government duties and election campaigning in India’s democratic system.
FAQ’s
What specific violations is Congress alleging regarding the Subhadra Yojana?
Congress asserts they are aware that the BJP government is organizing Subhadra Shakti gatherings that breach the Model Code of Conduct for Nuapada by-elections.
How has the BJP responded to these allegation?
The BJP has categorically refuted all allegations and insists that Subhadra celebrations were lawful gatherings held at their offices rather than government programs.
What is the current status of the election commission’s investigation?
Since Oct 5, 2025 during the November 11 Nuapada by-election, the Model Code of Conduct has been in force. Both BJD and Congress parties filed written complaints to Chief Election Officer RS Gopalan regarding any alleged violations; according to reports by Election Commission they are reviewing these complaints while simultaneously making sure all 358 polling stations provide real-time streaming to ensure security at polling stations.
Hi, I’m Harikesh, a content writer at cgncollege.com. I write engaging and informative articles covering the latest news, India, and global updates. My goal is to keep readers informed with accurate and insightful stories from around the world.
