Ahead of the upcoming elections in Telangana, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched the party’s election manifesto on Friday, highlighting six key promises named ‘Abhaya Hastham’ for the state’s electorate. The manifesto encompasses a range of promises aimed at addressing various sectors and demographics in the southern state.
Under the ‘Mahalakshmi’ initiative, the Congress party pledges to provide a monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 to women. Additionally, women will benefit from subsidised gas cylinders priced at Rs 500, along with free travel on TSRTC buses throughout the state.
Farmers are set to receive substantial support through the ‘Rythu Bharosa’ programme, involving financial aid of Rs 15,000 per acre for both farmers and tenant farmers. Agricultural labourers will receive an annual assistance of Rs 12,000 and a bonus of Rs 500 per quintal for paddy.
The ‘Gruha Jyothi’ initiative assures 200 units of free electricity for all households if Congress attains power in the state. Meanwhile, the ‘Indiramma Indlu’ scheme aims to provide house sites for families without homes, accompanied by a financial aid of Rs 5 lakh for house construction.
Addressing educational needs, the ‘Yuva Vikasam’ initiative promises a financial assistance card worth Rs 5 lakh for students, specifically allocated for college fee payments.
As part of the ‘Cheyutha’ commitment, a monthly pension of Rs 4,000 will be extended to various vulnerable groups, including senior citizens, widows, disabled individuals, beedi workers, single women, toddy tappers, weavers, and patients undergoing dialysis for AIDS and Filaria. The party further assures health insurance coverage of Rs 10 lakh.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that these six guarantees are designed to help the people of Telangana realise their aspirations.
In response to the manifesto launch, the Congress party recalled its track record of fulfilling promises in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh via its official Twitter handle.
Kharge, taking a dig at the leadership of Primne Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, asserted, “Today, I can challenge and say whatever Modi and KCR try together, Congress will certainly come to power.” Mocking at Rao, he said the CM says he is ready to retire, and people are also ready to see him off.
The assembly elections in Telangana are scheduled for November 30, with the vote counting set to take place alongside four other states on December 3.