Jharkhand Polls: Kharge To Launch Congress Manifesto Promising Free Electricity, Caste Census, Monthly Aid For Women

Congress President Kharge will unveil the party's manifesto for Jharkhand elections, promising welfare schemes for women, minorities, farmers, and government job creation.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will launch the Congress manifesto on Tuesday for the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly Elections, outlining significant welfare schemes aimed at women, marginalised communities, and farmers. The Congress 'guarantees' will be unveiled in Ranchi at 5 PM.

The promises may include a monthly allowance for women under the 'Mahiya Samman Yojana' wherein they will receive a monthly allowance of Rs 2,500 starting from December 2024. Poor families will get an increased free electricity provision of 250 units per month, while electricity for agricultural purposes will be free.

The Congress is likely to promise a caste census and raise the OBC creamy layer limit to Rs 10 lakh. The promises may include the procurement price for paddy to be increased from Rs 2,400 to Rs 3,200 per quintal, communities previously recognised as Scheduled Castes (SC) in Bihar to receive SC status in Jharkhand.

Languages such as “Ho,” “Mundari,” and “Kurukh” may be proposed for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The Congress is expected to promise High-quality English medium schools to be established in each block, and sports training to be facilitated in schools through sports organisations.

The party is also likely to promise to fill all vacant government positions within a specified timeframe.

Kharge Calls PM Modi 'Jhootho Ke Sardar', Expresses Congress Commitment To Implement 'Guarantees'

Earlier in the day, addressing a rally in Hazaribagh, Kharge emphasised Congress’s resolve to deliver on its promises to the people of Jharkhand.

During the rally, Kharge reaffirmed Congress’s commitment to implementing 'guarantees', referencing welfare schemes in Karnataka. “We have allocated Rs 52,000 crore for poverty alleviation schemes in Karnataka, of which Rs 24,017 crore has already been utilised,” he stated. He also cited budget allocations in Karnataka for the Gruha Jyoti scheme (Rs 9,657 crore), Shakti scheme for free bus service for women (Rs 5,015 crore), Gruha Lakshmi scheme offering Rs 2,000 per month to women heads of households (Rs 28,608 crore), and the Anna Bhagya and Yuva Nidhi schemes.

During the Jharkhand campaign, Kharge also launched a sharp critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party’s motive in Jharkhand was to seize control of the state's coal and mineral resources. He asserted that “the BJP leaders congregating in poll-bound Jharkhand outnumber the candidates, highlighting their desperation to wrest power from a tribal chief minister”, as quoted by news agency PTI.

He went on to call Prime Minister Narendra Modi the ‘jhootho ke sardar’ (head of liars), alleging that Modi’s promise of providing two crore jobs remains unfulfilled. “The BJP is after Jharkhand’s ‘black gold’ and has no intention of serving the people,” he remarked. Kharge also claimed, “Five per cent of the rich control 60 per cent of the nation’s wealth, while 50 per cent of poor citizens own only three per cent.” He criticised the government for waiving Rs 16 lakh crore in loans for the wealthy while neglecting the poor, farmers, and Dalits.

Kharge voiced confidence in Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, affirming, “No one can dare remove Hemant Soren. He will be the next chief minister of Jharkhand.” Kharge urged the BJP-led Centre to clear coal dues worth Rs 1.36 lakh crore for Jharkhand, which he said would directly benefit the people of the state.

The Jharkhand Assembly elections are scheduled for November 13 and 20, with vote counting set for November 23.