Framing the Lok Sabha election as a contest between those who want to “destroy” the Indian Constitution and democracy and those who want to protect it, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi at the launch of his party’s poll manifesto on Friday asserted that the election will be closely contested and that the Opposition will win the battle.
The 45-page manifesto, released by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, has been named Nyay Patra (Document for Justice) as it revolves around the theme of justice (paanch nyay or five pillars of justice) and 25 guarantees. This includes the right to apprenticeship (to every diploma holder or graduate below 25 years); making MSP a legal right; filling 30 lakh vacancies in government posts; constitutional amendments to remove the 50% cap on reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs; nationwide caste census; implementing 10% reservation in jobs and educational institutions for economically weaker sections (EWS); and scrapping the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the armed forces.
Here is what the manifesto broadly promises to achieve if the party is brought to power:
Key takeaways from Congress manifesto
Also read: Lok Sabha elections LIVE updates - April 5
The other key promises in the manifesto include universal healthcare - the “Rajasthan Model” of cashless treatment with health insurance up to ₹25 lakh; cash transfer of ₹1 lakh per year to every Indian family at the bottom of income pyramid; 50% reservation for women in Central government jobs; and implementing one-third reservation for women in State Assemblies from the 2025 round of elections, among others.
However, the manifesto is silent on bringing back the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), a key promise made by the party in all the previous Assembly elections.
During an interactive session after the launch, Mr. Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and alleged that the “capture of institutions” that started in 2019 has now reached its peak. Mr. Modi wants to have a monopoly over political financing through the capture of Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and the Income Tax Department, he claimed.
“Narendra Modi has given a chargesheet to the Opposition through the electoral bond scheme. That is why he is feeling terrorised and that is why the number [BJP’s poll target] has come to 400-plus... if ‘400 paar’ does not happen and it is in the range 180 and 140 then their ship will sink,” Mr. Gandhi said.
Asked about the number of seats the Congress and the Opposition are likely to win, he said, “Unlike many political commentators, I cannot predict the future. What I am confident of is that this is a much closer election than what is being propagated by the media. We are going to fight an excellent election and we are going to win the election.”
“INDIA [Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance] has decided that we are together fighting an ideological election. After winning the election, the whole coalition will jointly decide who will be the leader, the PM,” the former Congress chief responded when asked about the Opposition’s prime ministerial face.
Recalling how the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP government lost in 2004 despite the “India Shining” campaign, Mr. Gandhi claimed that after accounts of the Congress were frozen, the party was left with its “original path to go to the people”. “This [manifesto] reflects the voice of India, we have only written it,” he added.
“I urge everyone to have a close look at our manifesto and you will see a shandaar tasveer [beautiful picture] of our country in it,” Mr. Kharge said, adding, “We will open the doors to the poor when we come to power”.
Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, who headed the manifesto committee, and general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal were among those on the dais during the launch of the manifesto.
