Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of Congress, expressed strong confidence that the nation is eagerly seeking change, likening the BJP’s reliance on Modi’s assurances to the fate of the ‘India Shining’ campaign of 2004. This sentiment came as the Congress Working Committee approved a draft manifesto highlighting the party’s 25 ‘Nyay’ guarantees tailored to five key demographic groups.
Additionally, the party intends to release a separate manifesto focusing on preserving the independence of law enforcement agencies and constitutional bodies, which it alleges have been influenced by the ruling BJP to target opposition parties.
With the elections announced, Congress is set to launch a month-long campaign to propagate the ‘guarantees’ outlined during Rahul Gandhi’s recent Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra down to the household level. This initiative involves distributing ‘guarantee cards’ to families and emphasising them through conventions.
The decision by the CWC reflects the belief among party leaders that pledges made to youth, women, workers, farmers and social justice initiatives like conducting a caste census and lifting the 50% reservation cap hold credibility due to Congress fulfilling similar promises in the Karnataka and Telangana polls.
“This manifesto is a symbol of justice for a nation enduring unjust times. While Rahul Gandhi introduced the term ‘guarantee’ during the Karnataka elections, Modi is now echoing it. However, people are questioning the promises he made a decade ago. His assurances are now seen as falsehoods, lacking credibility. What we offer is not merely an individual’s guarantee like Modi’s, but rather the assurance of the Congress party. “It’s ‘ghar ghar guarantee’,” KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh, AICC leaders, said.
Sources revealed that P Chidambaram, chairing the manifesto panel, briefed the CWC on the draft document organised under ten headings. Members were convinced that these ‘guarantees’ had garnered public trust in Karnataka and Telangana and stressed the importance of ensuring that even the smallest voters are informed about them. Among those present were Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, chief ministers Sukhwinder Sukhu and Revanth Reddy, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Ajay Maken.
Kharge remarked, “The nation fervently demands change. The assurances currently touted by the incumbent government are destined to meet the same fate as the ‘India Shining’ slogan of 2004.”
In addition to other commitments, Congress pledges effective implementation of the Sachar panel’s recommendations for the welfare of Muslims and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, granting 6th Schedule status to Ladakh and reinstating statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Sources disclosed that members from the North-East urged in the CWC meeting for the party to promise extending special constitutional safeguards to parts of conflict-ridden Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, as per reports.