Karnataka assembly elections 2018 Congress manifesto vows free phones, jobs, more

One crore jobs for the unemployed, free smartphones for students between the age of 18 to 23 years, and an allocation of Rs 1,25,000 crore for irrigation are some of the key highlights of the manifesto released by the Congress for Karnataka Assembly election on Friday. While releasing the list of poll promises, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that the document was the 'man ki baat' of the people of Karnataka. "We spoke to everyone — from the kiranawallah, to Asha workers, to autowallahs — and asked them what they want. We did not tell them our man ki baat, but we asked them their man ki baat. This is your manifesto. And we promise that we will do what is in this manifesto," Gandhi said at a rally in Gonikoppal after he released the manifesto in Mangalore.

Some of the promises that the party made was to build an agriculture corridor in ten districts from Chamarajanagar to Belgaum apart from a new organic farming unit for a pesticide-free farming sector in the future. The party also promised to use technological options like big data and AI for governance apart from establishing a patent office in Bangalore to incentivise companies with international patents. A 'start up subsidy' of up to Rs 1 crore to help company's was also announced.

The party has also promised 12 years of free school education to children, making it compulsory for children up to 14. Apart from smartphones, girl students will also be given free education till postgraduate level.

Listing the party's highlights, the document said that Congress-ruled Karnataka was the first state to start online trading in agro markets, to provide interest-free loans up to Rs 3 lakh, bringing in universal health insurance under the Arogya Bhagya Scheme, to have a transgender policy, and build an industrial park dedicated to women.

Congress MP Rajeev Gowda said that the government has fulfilled over 90 per cent of the last manifesto. "Not only that, there are many schemes that the Centre has lifted from the state," he said.

By Amrita Madhukalya, DNA)