Telangana Assembly Elections 2023: Congress follows Karnataka guarantee model

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on October 18 launched a bus yatra starting party’s campaign in Telangana.

In the run-up to the Telangana assembly elections scheduled for November 30, the Congress party followed the ‘Karnataka guarantee model’ and announced a slew of promises on October 18, including financial assistance for women, unemployed youth, and farmers in the state.

The party’s proposed plan was announced by its general secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while addressing a rally in Mulugu district. She asserted that the promises had been framed in view of the problems faced by the people, as the Bharat Rashtra Samithi-led government had failed to deliver on the ground.

“As many as 40 lakh youngsters in Telangana are unemployed. Institutes like Osmania University don’t have teaching and non-teaching faculty. BRS remained focused only on establishing private colleges and universities to make money,” alleged Priyanka Gandhi.

She said that if the Congress government is voted into power in the southern state, the first step would be to provide a government job to the family members of martyrs of the Telangana Movement and Rs 25,000 as pension to their parents.

Unveiling the guarantees, Priyanka Gandhi promised that two lakh vacancies in Telangana would be filled within one year. Following the Karnataka model, the Congress leader mentioned that Rs 4,000 would be given to unemployed youth as monthly assistance.

“Our party will establish a special Gulf Cell for people who aspire to work in countries like Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates,” said Priyanka Gandhi.

The party has also planned to provide financial assistance of Rs 15,000 per acre to farmers, and people registered under MGNREGA would receive an annual assistance of Rs 12,000, Priyanka Gandhi added.

Among the other guarantees announced are 18 percent reservation for Scheduled Castes and 12 percent reservation for Scheduled Tribes.

Taking a swipe at the BRS, Priyanka Gandhi said the state government had joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party and was deeply involved in mine scam, wine scam, sand scam, and land scam.

“We believe governments are meant to work for the welfare of people and we have decided to provide land and Rs 6 lakh to homeless people from SC and ST communities for construction of house,” said Priyanka Gandhi.

She assured the people that LPG gas cylinders in the state would be available at Rs 500, and girl students would be given scooters after reaching the age of 18.

Expanding on the list of promises, Rahul Gandhi said that 200 units of free electricity would be provided to the people, along with a monthly financial assistance of Rs 2500 to women.

“Congress had promised the creation of the Telangana state in 2004, and it was fulfilled. We believe in delivering, and the same has been done in other states where we made guarantees,” said Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a bus yatra (Vijayabheri), kicking off the party’s election campaign in the state. They also visited the Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO recognised World Heritage site.