Cong promises LPG subsidy in Chhattisgarh manifesto; here's how it compares with BJP's

Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday released Congress' manifesto for the upcoming Chhattisgarh assembly elections.

Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday released the party's manifesto titled ‘Bharose ka Ghoshna Patra 2023-28’ for the upcoming Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Announcing the poll promises, Baghel said that if the party is elected to power, they will conduct a caste census in the state. He also assured of providing a ₹500 subsidy on gas cylinders.

Chhattisgarh polls: Cong releases manifesto

Elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly will be held in two phases - on November 7 and 17, while the results will be announced on December 3.

Congress' key promises in the manifesto:

1. Waiving off farmers' loans.
2. A caste census will be conducted in the state.
3. Farmers to get ₹3,200 per quintal against paddy procurement, including input subsidy currently being given under the Rajiv Gandhi Nyay Yojna to paddy cultivators.
4. Free education for students from KG (kindergarten) to PG.
5. Tenu leaf collection will be done at ₹6,000 per standard sack in place of the existing ₹4,000. The leaf collectors will additionally get an annual bonus of ₹4,000.
6. ‘Mahtari Nyay Yojana’ will be launched under which a subsidy of ₹500 per cooking gas cylinder will be given to women of all income groups.

According to Baghel, all the schemes that are currently operational will continue as well if Congress retains power in the state.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Congress dubbed BJP's manifesto - which was released on Friday - for the Chhattisgarh assembly elections as a “copy-cat”, saying that those criticising its poll guarantees as "freebies" were now themselves pledging guarantees to win elections.

“Yesterday, the BJP came out with its manifesto (in Chhattisgarh). Those who used to criticise 'revdi' and our guarantees, the PM,…the manifesto that has been released by the BJP is a copy-cat manifesto…The LPG cylinder, paddy procurement prices…these are all Congress poll promises. When Rahul Gandhi had used the word guarantee then they (the BJP) had heavily criticised it and now they are talking about 'Modi ki guarantee',” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said during a press conference.

Here's what BJP promised:

1. Filling one lakh vacant government posts in Chhattisgarh in two years.
2. Women from poor families will get cooking gas cylinders at ₹500 each.
3. Students will be given a monthly travel allowance for going to college through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
4. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, funds will be sanctioned for the construction of 18 lakh houses, while every house will have a tap water connection within two years under the ‘Ghar Ghar Nirmal Jal Abhiyan’.
5. Deendayal Upadhyay Krishi Majdoor Yojana will be launched under which landless agricultural labourers will be given ₹10,000 per year.
6. The party-led government will also launch the 'Mahtari Vandan Scheme', under which married women will be given financial assistance of ₹12,000 per year.
7. Launching 'Krishi Unnati Scheme' under which 21 quintals per acre paddy will be procured (from farmers) at ₹3100 per quintal.
8. Taking people of the state on a visit to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.