Caste census, Rs 3000 for women: Kharge unveils MVA's manifesto for Maharashtra polls

NEW DELHI: Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday released the joined manifesto for Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), outlining a series of welfare measures for the state. The launch event, held in Mumbai, saw the presence of key MVA leaders who joined hands to announce what they called the “five guarantees” for Maharashtra.

The MVA, which is a coalition of the Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has pledged to address key issues impacting the state’s socio-economic landscape.

The release of the MVA manifesto comes amid an intensifying political contest between the MVA and the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance. Earlier in the day, the BJP launched its own manifesto, pledging 25 key assurances if it is elected to govern the state for another term.

Launching 'Maharashtra Nama,' MVA's manifesto for the polls, Kharge said that the five pillars for the progress and development of Maharashtra is based on farming and rural development, industry and employment, urban development, environment, and public welfare.

Here are the key promises in the manifesto:

• A monthly financial aid of Rs 3,000 for women in Maharashtra under the Mahalaxmi scheme , along with free bus rides.
• An amount of Rs 50,000 each to farmers who repay their loans on time.
• Commitment to conducting a caste-based census and removing the 50% cap on reservations to increase opportunities for underprivileged communities.
• Youth seeking jobs will be given a Rs 4000 monthly stipend.
• Health insurance scheme of Rs 25 lakh started by Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan to be implemented in Maharashtra as well along with free medicines.

Voting for 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly is scheduled on November 20 and results are set to be announced on November 23.