With a lot of party hopping going on in Assam, and Congress losing its prominent leaders to BJP's poaching, Congress leaders think its manifesto for the ensuing elections on April 9 has an intrinsic appeal that can pull voters towards the party, provided it is able to firmly convey the benefits it would disseminate to the grassroots after winning the elections.
The Congress is seen as an independent force in the two upcoming assembly elections, Kerala and Assam. Although a strong force in the southern state, the party has had a dwindling start to its campaign strategy in the northeast after a few of its prominent position holders, like former state unit president Bhupen Kumar Bora and Lok Sabha MP and Manifesto Committee chairman Pradyut Bordoloi, left for the ruling BJP, leaving the Congress scrambling to readjust with a weaker leadership pool.
However, the party's key poll promises announced by Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge are seen by analysts as closer to public needs and appealing among certain sections, who, if consolidated behind the Congress, can sail the party towards the magic numbers. Kharge on Sunday announced five major guarantees, which have been listed in the Congress manifesto. He said that wherever the Congress promised such guarantees and came to power, these were implemented without any delay.
Notably, the party has promised conversion of annual land rights (Eksonia patta) into periodic land ownership for 10 lakh indigenous Khilonjiya people, which has been a primary demand of a majority of tea garden workers in Upper Assam, who constitute more than 17 percent of the state's population. Upper Assam holds significance for the grand old party, as it had only been able to grab seats in single digits out of the region's more than 45 seats.
A Congress leader said, "If we are able to consolidate voters in over 20 constituencies in upper Assam and win them, we are sure that we would be able to give a formidable challenge to the BJP in the state as more than 30 percent Muslims are already expected to be behind us."
Other promises include unconditional monthly cash transfer to women along with Rs 50,000 support for entrepreneurship, cashless health coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh per family, ensuring justice to late singer Zubeen Garg within 100 days, and a monthly pension of Rs 1,250 for senior citizens along with a dedicated ministry for their welfare.
Assam Congress spokesperson Rhituporna Konwar says it is not just a promise but the right of the people. Referring to the Arunodoi scheme, which gives Rs 1,250 to 40 lakh women, he claims beneficiaries are required to attend multiple BJP meetings. “That is why we said we will give this unconditionally. We have not said how much we will give yet. It will not be compulsory to attend our meetings, and we will support their businesses,” he says adding that land rights, too, are a matter of people’s entitlement and should be delivered sooner.
He also notes that the manifesto has not been released yet, but stresses that it will be for everyone, as all are equal members of society. “The divide between Assamese Hindus and Muslims never existed; it has been created and nurtured by the BJP,” he says.
Yet, Congress leaders fear that the lack of a robust grassroots mechanism and fledgling cadre enthusiasm may not convey the message clearly and may fail to rebuild trust with voters.
“The voting behaviour is grounded in emotions rather than reason. Therefore, this time there is a mix of need-based promises along with those that can challenge the BJP's narrative,” a political analyst said. “The party has also focused on attracting the tea garden community, and this land rights promise is expected to stir emotions among them and drive voters towards the grand old party.”
