Congress releases Manifesto in Karnataka; promises free electricity, monthly allowances for Unemployed & Women

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 2 May 2023

'Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota' (Peaceful garden of all communities), the Congress' platform for the 2019 Karnataka Assembly Elections, was unveiled. The opposition party reaffirmed its five poll assurances in its platform for the May 10 elections: Gruha Jyothi, Gruha Lakshmi, Anna Bhagya, Yuva Nidhi, and Shakti. In the manifesto, the Congress pledged to offer free electricity up to 200 units, Rs 2,000 per month for women who are the heads of households, Rs 3,000 per month for unemployed graduates, and Rs 1,500 per month for diploma holders who are unemployed in the presence of state unit chief DK Shivakumar and senior leader Siddaramaiah.

In addition, the Congress promised that, within a year of taking office in Karnataka, it would remove any "unjust and anti-people laws" that the state's current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration had enacted. The party also stated that it will examine expanding the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to include government employees who joined in 2006. It also pledged free travel for women in KSRTC/BMTC buses.

Congress politician Gaurav Vallabh was reported by news agency PTI as stating, "Congress manifesto focuses on how to generate employment, empower the women, eradicate poverty, and how to hold the hands of farmers."

In its platform, Congress promised to take "decisive action" following the law, including outlawing groups like the Bajrang Dal and the Popular Front of India. Read the Congress manifesto, which was issued by the party's leader Mallikarjun Kharge, here. "We will take decisive action as per law, including imposing a ban on any such organizations."

The platform of the Congress party stated, "The Congress party is dedicated to taking forceful and decisive action against people and groups propagating hatred against communities based on caste and religion.”

"We believe that the law and the Constitution are sacred and cannot be violated by people or groups like Bajrang Dal, PFI, or others who incite animosity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities," it said.