Farming, industry, employment among 5 key points on Congress manifesto for Maharashtra Assembly Elections

With the Maharashtra Assembly Elections drawing near, Congress party president Mallikarjun Kharge released Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)'s manifesto on Sunday. The manifesto focuses on five key points, and was unveiled in the presence of state's party president Nana Patole and general secretary K C Venugopal.

 "...We have five pillars for the progress and development of Maharashtra based on farming and rural development, Industry and employment, Urban development, environment, and public welfare…" news wire ANI quoted Kharge as saying.

While unveiling the manifesto in Mumbai, Kharge said that it was important for Maharashtra to defeat the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government and back the MVA alliance to ensure stability and good governance in the state.

Manifesto: Key promises

The alliance's election manifesto includes the Mahalakshmi Yojna, which aims to provide ₹3,000 per month to women, which is double the amount provided by the current Ladki Behna Yojana that offers ₹1,500. The Mahayuti had previously promised to increase this amount to ₹2,100, if elected.

Additionally, Mallikarjun Kharge announced a health insurance scheme worth ₹25 lakh, similar to the one implemented by the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan. The manifesto also promises to provide free medicines to the people of Maharashtra.

The manifesto also guarantees a farm loan waiver of up to ₹3 lakh, with farmers who have loans exceeding this amount set to receive an assistance of ₹50,000.

The MVA has also pledged to provide ₹4,000 per month to unemployed youths who are graduates or diploma holders, offering financial support as they seek employment opportunities.

Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024

The MVA alliance comprises Congress, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The Maharashtra Assembly elections for all 288 constituencies will take place on November 20, in a single phase, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23.