As the Maharashtra assembly elections draw near, the political scene is heating up with competing promises from the Mahavikas Aghadi and Mahayuti alliances. The Congress has released a manifesto with ambitious social programs such as a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 for women and farm loan waivers.
To gain voter confidence, the party has featured similar initiatives being implemented in Congress-ruled states in its advertisements. But the Bharatiya Janata Party has countered these claims by pointing out the “collapse” of social welfare programs in Karnataka and Telangana under Congress rule.
Karnataka experience: promises not kept, programs open to criticism
In Karnataka, the Congress government has launched high-profile programs like the Grihalakshmi Yojana, which promises direct cash transfers to women. But Bharatiya Janata Party leaders claim the plan failed, with weeks of delays and technical glitches hampering implementation. Critics say the Griha Jyoti Yojana, which was meant to provide 200 units of free electricity, also backfired, raising electricity prices by ₹3 per unit, further increasing the burden on consumers.
The Anna Bhagya Yojana, which promised 10 kg of free rice to 1.15 crore residents, has also been largely unfulfilled. Beneficiaries reportedly received rice under the Central Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana, rather than the government-sponsored scheme.
Shakti Yojana puts transporters in crisis
The Shakti Yojana, which provides free bus rides to women, has reportedly put the Karnataka State Transport Corporation in financial difficulty. To sustain the programme, the government has reportedly cut bus services and delayed salaries to drivers and conductors. A diesel shortage made operations even more difficult, forcing Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to resign and consider cancelling the programme.
Delays in recruitment and discontent among youth
The Congress in Karnataka had promised Rs 3,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to diploma holders, but these promises were not fulfilled due to financial constraints. Moreover, delays in the government in filling up vacancies have led to growing discontent among jobseekers. BJP leaders also allege that funds earmarked for marginalised communities like SC and ST groups have been misappropriated, leaving key welfare measures incomplete. Telangana: Mirroring Karnataka’s challenges
In Telangana, the Congress is facing similar allegations of broken promises. The Mahalakshmi Yojana, which promised ₹2,500 per month to women, is yet to be implemented even 10 months after the government came to power. The Kalyan Lakshmi Yojana, which provides 10 grams of gold and ₹10 lakh to newly married women, faced significant delays with thousands of applications stuck in the verification process. The Telangana High Court has also taken note of the government’s failure to pay promised benefits.
Other schemes like Griha Jyoti, Raitu Bharvasa (₹15,000 per acre for farmers) and Yuva Vikas Yojana are also struggling to get beyond paper. Congress’ promise of waiving Rs 20 lakh on farmer loans has reportedly reached only 40% of the intended beneficiaries.
Bharatiya Janata Party counter-attack in Maharashtra
Based on these examples, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Maharashtra have launched an attack on the Congress, accusing the party of making “empty promises”. They claim that the Congress-led state is struggling to fund basic governance due to the financial burden of these social programmes. BJP leaders claim that a similar failure could happen in Maharashtra if Congress promises are implemented without a budget plan.
As Maharashtra voters prepare to vote, the focus remains on how each party’s promises will match up with their respective track records. With both alliances vying for public confidence, the outcome will depend on whether the Congress’ welfare vision or the Bharatiya Janata Party’s claims of fiscal discipline and governance resonate with the electorate.
