Congress unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Friday, presenting a range of pledges aimed at attracting support from various segments including women, youth, farmers, SCs, STs, and OBCs. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party criticized it as a collection of false promises. Among its commitments, Congress proposed conducting a nationwide socio-economic and caste census, emphasizing concrete assurances compared to what it deemed as empty pledges from the BJP.
Additionally, Congress vowed to pass a constitutional amendment to increase the cap on reservations for SC, ST, and OBC, and adopt the Rajasthan model of cashless insurance for universal healthcare. Rahul Gandhi emphasized the election’s significance, advocating for fair competition and the protection of democracy and the Constitution. Other promises included a new Right to Apprenticeship Act for youth, abolition of government examination fees, and a Mahalakshmi scheme offering unconditional cash transfers to poor families. The party also pledged to ensure a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Prices for farmers and to overhaul recruitment processes in the armed forces.
Despite Congress’s assurances, critics from opposing parties questioned the feasibility and fulfillment of such promises, with some accusing Congress of past unfulfilled commitments and others dismissing their manifesto as unrealistic. Additionally, Rahul Gandhi likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s financial influence to that of billionaire Gautam Adani, suggesting a monopoly in political finance through central investigative agencies.