Amid mounting criticism over the Congress government’s failure to fulfil its poll promises in Telangana, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy challenged opposition parties in Keralam to visit his state and assess the implementation of the six guarantees.
The Congress government in Telangana has been attracting wide criticism from opposition parties and people for its failure to implement its poll promises. Despite this, the Chief Minister dared opposition parties in Keralam to visit Telangana, after releasing the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) manifesto in Kochi on Thursday, along with senior leaders.
The manifesto, branded as “Indira Guarantees,” lists five promises. These include free bus travel for women, Rs.1,000 monthly assistance for female college students, insurance coverage, interest-free loans of Rs. 5 lakh for youth to start businesses, and a pension increase to Rs. 3,000.
Ahead of the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections, the Congress had announced six guarantees. These included Rs. 2,500 monthly assistance for women, a pension hike to Rs. 4,000, a Rs.5 lakh Vidya Bharosa card for students, Rs.15,000 annual assistance per acre for farmers and tenant farmers, and Rs.12,000 support for agricultural labourers. More than two years later,
these promises remain unimplemented in Telangana.
As recently as last week, Congress MLC Vijayashanthi had questioned the Revanth Reddy Government in the Legislative Council on Monday over its failure to deliver on promises made to Telangana movement fighters.
Even so, the Chief Minister criticised opposition parties for questioning the guarantees announced in the UDF manifesto. He challenged political rivals to visit Telangana and study the implementation on the ground. “I will personally explain the execution of the schemes to Pinarayi Vijayan and his Ministers,” Revanth Reddy said.
During the Telangana elections, he had promised to implement the six guarantees within 100 days of coming to power. He had also assured legal backing for them in the first Cabinet meeting. He made a similar assurance for Keralam. He said the promises would be implemented from the first Cabinet meeting if the UDF comes to power.
In a sharp remark, he criticised both Pinarayi Vijayan and Narendra Modi. He said India and Kerala were being ruled by the “Modi Brothers.” In an apparent reference to the Sabarimala gold controversy, he alleged that even temple property was not safe in the State, often called “God’s Own Country.”