Rahul Gandhi promises unemployment allowance for graduates, diploma holders, if Congress wins Karnataka assembly polls

Every assembly election brings in the season of doles, freebies, and promises.

So is the case with the Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled for next month.

At a public rally in Belagavi, northern Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi promised that if elected to polls, the party would provide a monthly unemployment allowance of Rs 3000 for graduates, and Rs 1500 for diploma holders for two years. 

In an attempt to return to power in the state, the Congress has already announced poll guarantees like 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), and 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya).

During the rally, where AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge also accompanied him, Gandhi called on party leaders in the state to unite in its fight against the BJP.

The Congress leader also exuded confidence about "sweeping" the assembly polls with an absolute majority.

He hit out at the BJP-led central government, saying "this country belongs to everyone, and not just to two or three selected people; it is not Adani's".

"Select people, who are the BJP's friends, are getting all the benefits. It is causing corruption," the Wayanad MP claimed.

Gandhi attacked the Basavaraj Bommai government in Karnataka, dubbing it the "most corrupt government".

"It is a 40 per cent commission government," he claimed.

The Congress, on coming to power, will fill up all the government job vacancies in Karnataka, he asserted.

Exuding confidence in the party winning the Assembly election, Gandhi said: "All Congress leaders will fight the Karnataka Assembly election united, Congress will sweep this election."

HD Kumaraswamy of JD (S) was the last Congress-supported chief minister in Karnataka.

He was the state chief between 23 May 2018 and 23 July 2019.

However, the last Congress chief minister in the state was Siddaramaiah, who served as CM between May 13, 2013, and May May 2018 and 23 July 2019.

(With inputs from PTI)