Like any election season, promises are pouring in in Maharashtra in the run-up to the general elections as the ruling Mahayuti coalition and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) try to compete to woo voters. Key aspects of the promises include cash assistance for women and a caste census.

The MVA – comprising the Congress, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) – released a joint manifesto on Sunday. While the Mahayuti has outlined its joint agenda at election rallies, the BJP on Sunday released its manifesto for the state, while Ajit Pawar’s NCP ally released constituency-specific manifestos last week. Eknath ShindeShiv Sena of , is yet to release its manifesto.

Here are some key points on how the manifestos of the two alliances compare:

Women:

While the Mahayuti has promised to increase the monthly cash assistance given to women under its flagship scheme ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’ from Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,500, the MVA has pledged to provide women with amount of Rs 3,000 per month under its “Mahalakshmi” program. The MVA also promised two days of menstrual leave to women, The Indian Express reported.

Caste and religion:

The MVA reiterated its promise of a caste census and pledged to remove the 50% quota cap. Meanwhile, the Mahayuti promised a strict anti-conversion law.

Farmers:

Both the Mahayuti and the MVA have promised crop loan waivers, with the latter also offering Rs 50,000 as an incentive for timely repayment of loans by farmers.

Jobs and entrepreneurship:

The BJP, the largest component of the MVA, has promised zero-interest loans up to Rs 15 lakh and creation of 25 lakh jobs over the next five years, The Indian Express reported. The MVA has offered loans of up to Rs 5 lakh at low interest rates to women entrepreneurs, besides promising to fill 2.5 lakh vacancies in the state government. The MVA said it would aim to create 1.25 million jobs over the next five years, while providing monthly assistance of Rs 4,000 to the unemployed, the Indian Express reported.

Power:

The MVA has promised a waiver of up to 100 units for households consuming up to 300 units of electricity, while the Mahayuti has pledged to reduce its electricity bills by 30%.