Patna: With the Bihar Assembly elections approaching, the Congress party has launched a statewide initiative aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene among women. As part of the Priyadarshini Udaan Yojana, the party has begun distributing free sanitary pad packets to women across the state.
The initiative is being positioned as a response to the ruling NDA government’s Maa Bhagin Samman Yojana, which promises a Rs 2,500 monthly stipend for women. Congress leaders stated that over five lakh sanitary pad boxes will be distributed during the campaign.
To promote "Maai-Bahin Yojna", Mahila Congress is planning to distribute 5 lakh sanitary pads for free in Bihar .
Okay good,but ideally the sanitary pad packet should have been w/o Rahul Gandhi face b'cs @RahulGandhi will be now seen in toilets,gutter and trash bins. Best… pic.twitter.com/VFSMfWGHQw
— Rahul Jha (@JhaRahul_Bihar) July 4, 2025
However, the distribution drive has sparked controversy after it was revealed that the sanitary pad packets prominently feature images of Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Opposition parties criticised the move, questioning the relevance of Rahul Gandhi’s photograph on a women-centric hygiene product.
JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar, representing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s party, accused the Congress of politicising women’s issues for electoral gain. “This is clearly an election tactic,” he said, adding that the Congress has resorted to such campaigns due to its declining political influence in the state.
Despite the criticism, Congress leaders maintain that the initiative is focused on public health awareness and empowering women ahead of the elections.