On the concluding day of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, the party announced six 'guarantees' at a public meeting held at the outskirts of Hyderabad. The party promised to implement them immediately after forming a cabinet, once they win in the Telangana Assembly elections, expected to be held at the end of the year.
Facing an impressive crowd turnout were the leaders on stage, including past Congress Presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, legislator Sachin Pilot, Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shiva Kumar, former cricketer and ex-MP Mohd Azharuddin, Telangana state President Revanth Reddy, state CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka, and many others.
The guarantees have been designed to attract different sections of society. The following guarantees were announced by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge:
1 Mahalakshmi: This 'guarantee' includes Rs 2,500 in monthly financial assistance to every woman, along with a gas cylinder at Rs 500. This scheme would provide free travel on Road Transport Corporation buses to women across the state, similar to the one existing in Karnataka.
2 Rythu Bharosa: Every farmer will receive Rs 15,000 annually per acre, while tenant farmers and agricultural labourers will get Rs 12,000 per acre, per year. A bonus of Rs 500 per quintal will be given for paddy.
3 Gruha Jyothi: According to this poll promise, each family will receive 200 units of power for free.
4 Indiramma Indlu: This guarantee will support the housing needs of the poor. Each family that does not own a house is eligible to receive Rs 5 lakh for the construction of their house. Those who contributed to the movement against the separate Telangana state will get a 250 sq yard house.
5 Yuva Vikasam: Students will receive Rs 5 lakh for their tuition and coaching needs.
6 Cheyutha: Elderly people will receive Rs 4,000 in monthly pension and a Rs 10 lakh health insurance cover.
While unveiling the guarantees, Rahul Gandhi said that Congress wasn't just fighting the ruling party BRS but also MIM and BJP, alleging that they were working together. He questioned why CM K. Chandrashekar Rao or MIM leaders do not face any cases from central agencies when every major opposition leader is facing trouble from the Centre. He predicted that BRS will be voted out of power and replaced by the Congress in the upcoming elections.
The CWC meeting, held over a period of two days, passed 14 resolutions related to the economy, internal security, and the political situation in the country. On the third and final day, senior Congress leaders like Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Bhagel, Meenakshi Natarajan, and Pawan Khera will visit 115 Assembly constituencies in Telangana to create awareness about the 'guarantees' and will also release a 'chargesheet' against the Telangana government.