The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka): In a significant development, Mallikarjun Kharge, the President of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), has initiated a series of development projects totaling Rs 1,464 crore in his home district of Kalaburagi. This move comes shortly before the expected announcement of the parliamentary election schedule, underscoring the Congress party’s commitment to regional and national development.
During his address, Kharge spotlighted the “five guarantees” pledge, a cornerstone of the Congress’s pre-election promises, recently underscored by the achievements of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state. These guarantees include ambitious proposals such as filling 30 lakh vacancies in the government sector nationwide, enhancing the remuneration for Asha and anganwadi workers, and the establishment of residential hostels for women across all districts, named in honor of Savitribai Phule. Additionally, Kharge underscored the party’s commitment to improving educational opportunities for the underprivileged and boosting farmers’ income through increased minimum support prices for agricultural produce, contingent upon the party’s electoral success at the national level.
Kharge used this platform to critique the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s reluctance to grant special status to Kalyana Karnataka by amending Article 371J of the Constitution, accusing the BJP of neglecting the region’s development and questioning their eligibility for electoral support from its populace.
Furthermore, the Congress leader raised concerns about the transparency of political financing, alleging that the BJP had received Rs 335 crore in undisclosed corporate donations through the electoral bonds scheme in a single day, without any regulatory oversight.
This launch of development projects and the reinforcing of the Congress’s electoral promises reflect a strategic positioning by Kharge and the Congress party, aiming to bolster their appeal to voters by highlighting tangible development initiatives and a commitment to social welfare ahead of the looming parliamentary elections.
