The Congress party on Tuesday released its 'Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota' (Peaceful garden of all communities), the poll manifesto for the May 10 Karnataka elections. The manifesto was released by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru in presence of former Union minister P Chidambaram, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar, and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The manifesto focuses on women and youth and promises “extension of one pension scheme” as it did in Himachal Pradesh. The party also promised increased reservation for Scheduled Castes. The manifesto reiterated five guarantees in its poll manifesto: Gruha Jyothi, Gruha Lakshmi, Anna Bhagya, Yuva Nidhi, and Shakti.
Speaking at the event, Kharge said the promises will be implemented in the first cabinet meeting on the first day of government formation.
Here are the key highlights of the Congress manifesto, Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota:
- Gruha Jyothi promises 200 units free power.
- Gruha Lakshmi offers Rs 2,000 to each woman head of family
- Under Anna Bhagya, 10 kilograms of food grains have been promised.
- Yuva Nidhi will give Rs 3,000 a month to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders, if elected to power.
- Free travel to all women in regular Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses.
- To increase reservation for SC’s from 15 per cent to 17 per cent for Scheduled Tribes 3% to 7%.
- To restore minority reservation 4 per cent and increase reservations for Lingayats and Vokkaliggas and other communities and to pursue for inclusion in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution.
- Will repeal all unjust laws & other anti-people laws passed by BJP govt within 1 year of coming to power, says party in its manifesto.
Targeting the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party government, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar said, "Congress is committed to good governance, which has been tarnished in the last four years" during the poll campaign.