State assembly elections are soon to be held in Jharkhand and Maharashtra, while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi can be seen maintaining a sizable distance from the first state. However, he has announced five ‘Guarantees’ in Maharashtra.
On Wednesday, 6th November, Gandhi announced five guarantees in Mumbai, in which he promised that if Maha Vikas Agadi was voted to power in the state they’ll provide free bus travel and a monthly cash benefit of ₹3000 to women under the Mahalakshmi Yojana.
Similarly, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance announced 10 welfare schemes on 5th November, including increasing the monthly benefit of ‘Laadki Bahin Yojana’ from ₹1500 to ₹2100 to women in the state.
However, the freebie model of Congress hasn’t recently worked in Haryana. Also, these promises have increased the debt of the states where these were implemented.
Here’s what Mahayuti and MVA promised before the Maharashtra polls:
Kicking off the MVA campaign in Mumbai, Maharashtra, Rahul Gandhi’s guarantees include a monthly cash transfer of Rs 3000 to women along with free bus travel under Mahalakshmi Yojana. Additionally, he promised a loan waiver of up to ₹3 lakh to farmers and an incentive of ₹50000 on loan repayment.
He also promised unemployment wages of up to ₹4000 per month for jobless youth, caste census in the state, and removing the 50% cap on the reservation, if voted to power in the center.
On the other hand, Mahayuti alliance in its first coalition rally said that it would increase the Ladli Bahin Scheme and senior citizen pension from ₹1500 to ₹2100 per month. CM Eknath Shinde also said that the aid to farmers will be increased from ₹12000 to ₹15000, and a 20% subsidy over the minimum support price (MSP) will be provided to farmers. He also promised a farm loan waiver and the expansion of the Shetkari Samman Yojana.
Instead of offering free electricity which in return increases the load on the state budget, CM Eknath Shinde promised to cut electricity bills by 30% by investing in renewable energy infrastructure. He also promised to create 25 lakh jobs and offer monthly tuition aid of ₹10000 to 10 lakh students.
Other promises of Mahayuti include an increase of monthly wages for ASHA workers to ₹15000, and a promise to build pandan roads to 45000 villages in the state.
If we analyze what both alliances are offering, we find that one relies on freebies and caste lines, while the other promises aid, empowerment, and developing infrastructure.
Congress Ignores Mallikarjun Kharge’s Advice
A few days ago, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that he had warned the Maharashtra state unit to announce guarantees responsibly based on what the state budget allows. This row came after DK Shivakumar said that the Karnataka government would rethink the free bus travel for women’s ‘Shakti’ scheme, stating that many want to pay for their tickets.
About which Kharge had advised that the party shouldn’t announce 5,6, 10, or 20 guarantees. They should be announced based on budget, otherwise, there won’t be any money for roads, and everyone will turn against the party.
This observation by Kharge gave the BJP an advantage regarding the unreal promises made by the Congress party which are tough or impossible to implement.
Karnataka’s Weakened Financial Condition and Failure To Deliver In Telangana
While the Congress likes to boast about their ‘Guarantees’ working pre-poll in states like Karnataka and Telangana, the reality contradicts.
As per Karnataka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s financial advisor Basavaraj Rayareddi, the five guarantee schemes by the Karnataka government tie up about Rs 60000 crores, which in return limits essential development work.
The effect of such freebies can be seen directly in the state’s GDP which was above the national average since 2019-20, but is set to fall below in the year 2023-24. As per a report, Karnataka is projected to grow at 6.6 percent, while national GDP growth stands at 7.3 percent. It is also stated that the state’s fiscal deficit is rising, as it increased from 2.14 percent in 2022-23, to 2.67 percent in 2023-24, and will likely reach 2.95 in the upcoming financial year.
On a similar note, the Bharatiya Janata Party had accused the Congress government in Telangana led by A Revanth Reddy of failing to deliver on six guarantees in 100 days.
BJP state president and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy also said that the state government was facing a financial crisis and may not be able to pay salaries to employees.
Such a financial crisis has been repeatedly seen in states where Congress came into power after making similar promises that it made in Maharashtra.
The Haryana Affect
Despite what Congress and their followers are claiming to be a masterstroke in Maharashtra, the ‘Guarantee’ Card hasn’t been quite fruitful for the party in recent Haryana state assembly elections.
The grand old party had given seven ‘Guarantees’ ahead of the Haryana state assembly polls, in which they failed spectacularly. Before any election, Congress tried to offer several guarantees, which painted a pre-poll illusion in states like Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.
However, poor implementation of such guarantees and increasing debts on the state exchequer seem to have woken up the voters from this mirage as the ‘Guarantee Card’ did not work in Haryana.
While Congress chose to divert itself from its own president’s advice, the question remains what will Maharashtra choose, freebies or empowerment?