Focusing on the Telangana state election, which are due to be held by the end of this year, the former chief of Congress, Sonia Gandhi, unveiled six promises for the state. Addressing a public meeting in the Tukkuguda area on the outskirts of Hyderabad, the former leader said that the promises would be honoured if the party succeeded in being elected in the state.
What Congress Proposes
These pledges include:
The Mahalakshmi scheme: Monthly financial assistance of ₹2,500 ($30), cooking gas cylinders worth ₹500 ($6), and free travel for women in Telangana;.
Rythu Bharosa: Annual payment of ₹5,000 ($60) to farmers and tenant farmers, and ₹12,000 for agricultural labour. Congress also announced a ₹500 bonus for paddy crops.
Gruha Jyothi: 200 units of free electricity to all households.
Indiramma Indlu: Under this scheme, ₹500,000 ($6,000) will be provided for building more houses. Furthermore, 250-square-yard houses will be given to each person who fought in the Telangana statehood movement.
Yuva Vikasam: ₹500,000 ($6,000) aid for students in college and financial aid for coaching.
Cheyutha: A monthly pension of ₹4000 ($48) for the elderly (those above the age of 60), and ₹1,000,000 Rajiv Arogyasri insurance cover
The public rally was attended by Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi's son Rahul Gandhi.
Kharge asked all leaders and workers at all levels to meet the electorate regularly and listen to their problems as the party gets ready to fight the national election next year.
Later this year, five Indian states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Mizoram - will hold elections, setting the stage for the important 2024 Parliamentary elections.