Rahul Gandhi's ₹3,000 Promise & Free Bus Rides: MVA's Bold Moves for Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024!
With assembly elections announced in Maharashtra for November 20, opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has intensified its campaign, promising prosperity as well as welfare measures across the state. Rahul Gandhi of Congress, Sharad Pawar of the NCP with his Sharad faction, and Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena with UBT faction have all campaigned in rallies across Mumbai and unveiled key elements of their agenda if they are voted to power.
Mahalaxmi Scheme by Rahul Gandhi: Empowering Women
While addressing the Maharashtra Swabhiman Rally, Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader, assured women a sum of ₹3,000 every month under his Mahalaxmi Scheme. Mr Gandhi said that the "scheme was to relieve women from economic suffering and place an economic safety net in their hands so that they would be significantly empowered in order to increase financial independence." Inflationary Challenges and Increasing Financial Independence Amongst the Women of Maharashtra. Gandhi further criticized the economic policy of BJP, which he alleged had increased inflation and unemployment during its tenure.
Promises for Youths and Farmers by MVA
The MVA promises a greater good in general under the banners of youth-friendly and farmer-friendly provisions. Between the two categories, this section involves those communities the most battered by the current economic situation in the state: youths and farmers.
Jobless Youth: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray promised a fixed allowance of ₹4,000 to unemployed youth. "This scheme would enable the young to find required resources and experience till they are employed," said Thackeray and hoped that this would be the beginning of the end to their unemployment.
Farm Loan Waiver: NCP (Sharad faction) leader Sharad Pawar announced a hefty farm loan waiver, promising farmers up to ₹3 lakh per farmer under the "Krishi Samruddhi Yojana." The promise is expected to ease the financial burden on farmers and get them back on their feet from debt. Loans have become an intensifying crisis in Maharashtra's agricultural sector.
Free Bus Travel for Women and Girls
He has promised free bus travel for women and girls also in the state of Maharashtra with the purpose of making it more affordable for families to travel and to make girls and women, particularly students and working women, feel safe while traveling affordably.
BJP and Maha Yuti's Counter Campaign
The BJP-led Maha Yuti alliance, for its part, has also launched its campaign. Ajit Pawar's NCP faction recently released a constituency-specific manifesto which promised a higher Ladki Bahin Yojana allowance, the scheme supposed to enhance welfare for youngsters in Maharashtra. Furthermore, Bharatiya Janata leaders have slammed MVA as unrealistic and "fused bulbs," or empty rhetoric that will not happen.
Election Security and EC Seizures
The Election Commission has stepped up its surveillance ahead of the elections, which are being held sans illicit activities, to ensure a clean election scenario. So far, it has confiscated ₹280 crore in Maharashtra and ₹158 crore in Jharkhand since the polls were announced. The aggressive entrenchment is reflective of the focus on bringing down undue influence by free money flow, especially for elections.
NCP's Constituency-Specific Manifesto
Ajitesh Pawar's NCP campaign stood out because constituency-specific promises were made area-wise tailoring efforts at their unique compulsions. In such a manner, the party sought to directly connect with local communities with area-specific problems, from health to education and social welfare.
I.N.D.I.A. Bloc's Seven Guarantees for Jharkhand
Jharkhand's neighboring I.N.D.I.A. Bloc, comprising of the Congress and its supporters, unveiled their election manifesto promising a lot of social benefits as under:
Employment: 10 lakh jobs for the youth of Jharkhand.
Health: Health insurance up to ₹15 lakh for financially weaker sections.
Reservation: Increased quotas of the Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and Other Backward Classes.
Summary and Key Takeaways
The mounting whirlwind campaign for Maharashtra and Jharkhand's assembly polls is laced with varied promises that would ensure socio-economic support for women, the youth, and farmers. MVA would clinch welfare schemes and financial aid, in retaliation, while BJP and its allies tag these promises as unviable and focus instead on stability. Both alliances are striving to win the vote of hearts of Maharashtra's diversified voter base at the fag end of campaigning with ushered-in policies and developing goals.
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