Congress's five guarantees key in party's thumping win in Karnataka assembly election

The five guarantees Yuva Nidhi, Gruha Jyoti, Gruha Lakshmi, Anna Bhagya and Uchita Prayana are believed to have played a key role in the party's appeal among the voters.

Bengaluru: As Congress gets achieves a sweeping victory in the Karnataka assembly election, the five guarantees promised by the party in its election manifesto are said to have yielded excellent results for the party. The Congress manifesto for Karnataka assembly election was centred around the five guarantees: Yuva Nidhi envisaging Rs 3,000 per month for two years to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 per month to unemployed diploma holders, Gruha Jyoti(200 units of free electricity), Gruha Lakshmi (Rs 2000 per month for women), Anna Bhagya (10 kg rice per person per month) and Uchita Prayana(free bus service for women).

The five guarantees are believed to have done wonders for the Congress giving it a sweeping victory and played a key role in the party's appeal among the voters. The party has won 136 seats while its rival the BJP has to be content with 65 seats. The five guarantees by the Congress for the people of Karnataka have helped it to crush the hopes of the ruling party in the state and bring it to power.

The voters of the state have stonewalled the BJP's attempt to come to power once again and have put a stamp of majority on the Congress. Before the release of the manifesto, state Congress leaders, national leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had announced guarantees at five separate platforms, times and areas.

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah, KPCC President DK Shivakumar, State Congress In-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, Campaign Committee Chairman MB Patil, Manifesto Drafting Committee Chairman Dr G Parameshwar have played a key role in framing the five guarantees. The first announcement of 200 units of free electricity per household was made by the Congress at the inaugural meeting of Prajadhwani Yatra held in Chikkodi, Belgaum.

The announcement was made by KPCC President DK Shivakumar and then Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and BK Hariprasad. The second announcement of Rs 2000 every month to all the women of the state was made by the Congress at the women's convention held at Palace Grounds in Bangalore.

The guarantee was announced in the presence of AICC leader Priyanka Gandhi. The Congress also announced 1o kg free rice for BPL card holders. The fourth guarantee of Yuvanidhi envisaging Rs 3,000 per month for unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 per month for diploma graduates was announced by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the Yuvakranti convention held in Belgaum. Rahul Gandhi also announced the Uchita Prayana (free bus service for women) for women travelers in the state.

Besides the five guarantees, the Congress had also made two more announcements- one to increase the salary of Asha workers up to Rs 15,000. It was announced by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi that the salary of Asha workers (Asha Karyakarthe) will be increased by Rs 8,000. The announcement was made at a conference held in Khanapur.

The seventh announcement of 'Krishi Nidhi' scheme for farmers was made by Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi. The scheme envisages to earmark Rs 1.5 lakh crore in the budget for farmers over 5 years in the state. Gandhi also announced an increase in minimum support price to coconut and araecanut growers and increase in milk subsidy.