Congress’ MP manifesto for caste survey, IPL team | India News

BHOPAL: Exactly a month before voting in Madhya Pradesh, Congress on Tuesday released its assembly election manifesto in Bhopal with 1,290 promises spanning a wide spectrum – from caste survey, basic needs and a 27% OBC quota to insurance for all. It promised even to try for an IPL team for the state. “Congress aayegi, khushhaali layegi” is the party’s slogan for the 2023 polls.
The Padho Padhao Yojana, announced by Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, is among the key promises. The standouts in the 106-page manifesto are a health insurance cover of Rs 25 lakh for every family and a Rs 10 lakh accident cover.
MP Cong vows to restore old pension scheme for govt staffers
Congress, which believes the winds are in its favour in 2023, promises nine rights to the common people – right to water, health, electricity, education, food, housing, minimum income, social justice and employment.
Releasing the manifesto on Tuesday afternoon, former chief minister and state Congress president Kamal Nath said, “Right to health is our big commitment. Every family is distressed because of the present health system. People are having to sell their homes for medical treatment. We will pass a law for right to health and will give a health insurance cover of up to Rs 25 lakh with Rs 10 lakh accident insurance. We will bring every family under it. This will be a huge step for the state.”
The manifesto reiterates the party’s guarantees announced by Priyanka Gandhi in Mandla on October 12 – free school education and stipends ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per month under the Padho Padhao Yojana.
Playing to the gallery, Congress has tossed up the promise to “try for an IPL team of Madhya Pradesh”. Congress also promised rewards for sportsmen who win medals. An IPL team, however, would require the BCCI to first invite bids.
All the “guarantees” announced by Priyanka, Rahul Gandhi and Kamal Nath have been incorporated in the manifesto. These include completion of the Jai Kisan Fasal Rinn Maafi Yojana to waive farm loans of up to Rs 2 lakh, a Rs 1,500 monthly allowance for women as Nari Samman Nidhi, cooking gas at Rs 500 per cylinder, 100 units of electricity free under the Indira Griha Jyoti Yojana, and half the electricity bill till 200 units.
Two schemes of the Shivraj government will be replaced and amped up – the Mukhya Mantri Kanyadaan Yojana will be replaced by the Beti Vivah Yojana, under which each bride will get Rs 1,00,001, and the Ladli Lakshmi Yojana will be replaced by Meri Bitiya Rani Yojana, under which benefits of Rs 2.5 lakh will be given to girls from their birth to marriage. Congress’s promise to restore the old pension scheme for government employees is in the manifesto.