Karnataka budget 2023: CM Siddaramaiah says ₹52,000 crore to be spent for five key poll promises

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaih on Friday presented the first state budget on Friday 7 July, since the Congress took charge of the state government this year. CM Siddaramaiah informed that the state government is expecting a total expenditure of ₹2,50,933 crores, a capital expenditure of ₹54,374 crore and loan repayment of ₹22,441 crores is expected.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said approximately ₹52,000 crore would be spent annually for the five key poll 'guarantees' and it is expected to benefit 1.3 crore families.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah informed that government will provide an additional financial aid of ₹4,000 to ₹5,000 a month to each household through the five poll guarantees promised in the Congress party's manifesto. 

The five 'guarantees' include free bus travel for women, 200 units of free electricity, 10 kilograms of free foodgrains to the poor, ₹2,000 for the woman head of the house and unemployment benefit of up to ₹3,000.

According to some political analysts, these pre-poll promises found resonance with the electorate leading to the Congress' resounding victory in the Assembly elections.

In the polls to the 224-member Assembly, the Congress bagged 135 seats, while the BJP secured 66 and the JD(S) 19.

Siddaramaiah created a record of sorts by presenting his 14th budget in the Assembly as Finance Minister, surpassing the mark of late Ramakrishna Hegde, a former CM, who had presented 13 budgets.

What are Congress’ pre-poll promises in Karnataka?

Gruha Jyoti Yojane

The Congress has announced this promise as their first one in January this year. The party then told, “To help Kannadigas fight the onslaught of price rise and save up for essentials such as food, education for children, and healthcare, the Congress on coming to power would provide 200 units electricity, free of cost, to every household in Karnataka.

Gruha Lakshmi Yojane

In its second poll promise, the party announced, “Under this scheme each housewife in the state is promised Rs. 2,000 per month. if the party is voted to power. The scheme - which would benefit 1.5 crore housewives will be allotted to the head woman of the family.”

Anna Bhagya

The ‘Anna Bhagya’ scheme will provide free 10kg rice every month for people below poverty line (BPL) in the state, if the Congress is elected to power.

Yuva Nidhi

To fight unemployment, the grand old party has announced the Yuva Nidhi scheme which will provide Rs. 3000 every month to unemployed youth with graduation degrees for two years. It will also provide Rs. 1500 every month as an allowance to those young people with a diploma and unemployed in the state.

Theses pre-poll benefits were offered in addition to other promised benefits such as 500 litres of tax-free diesel every year for deep-sea fishing and ₹6,000 to all marine fishermen as a lean period allowance during the fishing holiday.

Congress also promised to purchase cow dung at ₹3 per kg and establish compost/manure centres in villages involving rural women/youth.