Chhattisgarh polls: Cong manifesto promises MLC berth to dissidents

Raipur, November 05

In a bid to wrest power from BJP in Chhattisgarh, the Congress has finally come up with its trump card through poll manifesto that prominently promises member of legislative council (MLC) berth to dissidents who had been denied ticket. Besides, the party resorts to please-all formula in the manifesto that prima facie looks like upgraded version of BJP’s previous vision document, though the Congress leaders strongly denies any such resemblance.

Knowing that the dissidents can spoilsport its aim to regain power in State, the Congress has reportedly decided to include the most attractive point for them – establishment of an Upper House - Vidhan Parishad (legislative assembly) in State after coming to power. Through this feature, the party has given the disgruntled lot a reason to smile in the end.

In its manifesto, the party further promises free power to farmers up to five HP irrigation pumps, 35 kg free rice per month to all ration cardholders, Rs 2000 per quintal support price for paddy and increase in reservation quota of scheduled castes from 12 to 16%.

The party also says that it will disburse increased unemployment allowance, give wide options to college students to pick computers and tablets of their choice under government’s existing schemes, reduction in power tariff and lowering of water cess by 50% in urban areas.

To counter Maoists, the party promises to first work on confidence building measures like earning trust of tribals by seeking their inputs in policy formulation. In addition, the manifesto has rehabilitation package for the people who get affected during naxal incidents. There is also a provision of house for homeless.

Further, with an aim to bring tribal youth to mainstream life by inducting in police force, the party promises to constitute Bastar battalion. An academy for conservation of tribal languages will also be set-up, if the party get clear mandate.

The party says it will also simplify the caste certificate issuing process and establish a minority finance and development corporation, apart from setting up a Haj house. Moreover, in memory of Congress leaders who were massacred during May 25 naxal attack, the party says it will build Shaheed Sthal at Jiram valley in Darbha region under Bastar.

The other promises in the manifesto include purchase of forest produce on support price, maximum benefit to forest dwellers on buying their forest produce, parity in salaries of contractual teacher.