Besides the manifesto, senior Congress leader and former IPL chairman said: “As soon as the government is formed, one lakh government jobs will be given in the first meeting of the cabinet”.
The Himachal Pradesh elections are just a week away, the hill state will vote on November 12. The result for the 68-seat state will be announced almost a month later on December 8.
The magic figure is 35, the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party is enjoying a majority with 45 seats, runner-up Congress has 22 and CPIM has 1.
Anti-incumbency Jinx: The hill state has a 30-year-old jinx of not repeating a government. The State was considered to be a Congress fortress from 1962-1977. The GOP ruled the hill state for consistently 15 years. In 1977 the Janta party came to power however, the party could not rule much and Congress came back to power. However, from 1990 till 2017 the state has never favoured the ruling party.
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In absence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is seen campaigning in the state and has received a massive positive response. BJP president JP Nadda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are campaigning for the saffron party.
A week before the polls, the grand old party released its manifesto filled with appealing promises. As an attempt to lure voters, the Himachal Congress has tried to give an AAP (Aam Aadmi party) touch to its campaigning.
What does the manifesto say?
Old pension scheme will be revived. Now, what is the Old pension scheme or OPS?
According to the OPS, upon retirement, employees receive 50 percent of their last drawn basic pay plus dearness allowance or their average earnings in the last ten months of service, whichever is more advantageous to them. A ten-year service requirement should be met by the employee. Under OPS, employees are not required to contribute to their pensions. An incentive for taking on government employment was the guarantee of a pension post-retirement and a family pension. Retirement corpus building was not pressured. OPS has become unsustainable for governments due to rises in life expectancy.
Himachal’s women will receive a compensation of ₹1,500 per month:
In an attempt to match up with competitor Aam Aadmi party, the grand old party promised 1,500 Rs to all women in the state. The AAP had promised a sum of RS 1000 to all women above the age of 18 in Punjab where it managed to form the government.
300 units of free electricity in Himachal Pradesh:
Another tried and tested formula, that the Kejriwal-led party has implemented in Delhi and Punjab and proudly endorses wherever it campaigns.
A start-up fund of ₹680 crores for the youth:
In an attempt to attract the youth, which amounts to 35.25% of the state, Congress has promised to allot a lump sum amount of 680 crores as a start-up fund in the state.
Four English medium schools will open in every legislative assembly region of Himachal:
Stressing on education, Congress has promised four English medium schools in every legislative assembly region.
Free medical treatment in every village through mobile clinics:
Inspired by Delhi’s mohalla clinic, Congress has announced free medical treatment in every village through mobile clinics.
Mohalla clinics are primary health centres that provide basic diagnostic, consultation, and essential medicines free of cost. To reduce the burden on tertiary-level hospitals and provide ease of access to primary treatment, one can undergo 212 tests for free at these clinics.
New tourism policy:
Being a hill station a lot of revenue of the state depends on the tourists. The Congress manifesto promises to develop a new tourism policy.
Besides the manifesto, senior Congress leader and former IPL chairman said: “As soon as the government is formed, one lakh government jobs will be given in the first meeting of the cabinet”.
He further said, “Vacant government posts will also be filled and hence youth will get new opportunities. Old age pension will be increased. Citizens above 75 years of age will be given a special social security pension.”
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