Kharge Launches MVA's Manifesto For Maharashtra Polls, Lists '5 Pillars' For Progress

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday launched Maha Vikas Aghadi's manifesto for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole and party general secretary KC Venugopal were also present on the occasion besides Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut and NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule. Unveiling the manifesto, Kharge remarked that it is important to defeat the Mahayuti government in the state and support MVA for stability and good governance. The Congress chief listed five pillars included in the manifesto for the progress and development of Maharashtra. "...We have five pillars for the progress and development of Maharashtra based on farming and rural development, Industry and employment, Urban development, environment, and public welfare...," he said. "Our five guarantees will help in the upliftment of families and every family will get relief of around Rs 3.5 lakh in a year," he added. The party has promised financial assistance of Rs 3,000 under the Mahalakshmi scheme and a caste census. It has also promised to remove the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations in line with Tamil Nadu. The party would launch a free bus service for the women in the state and give Rs 4,000 monthly stipend to youths seeking jobs. Farmers who repay their loans on time would be given an amount of Rs 50,000 each. The health insurance scheme of Rs 25 lakh that was introduced by the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan will be implemented in Maharashtra, as per the manifesto. The party has also promised to provide free medicines as well. Kharge said the MVA's manifesto highlights all-inclusive growth and upgradation of rural and urban development and agriculture. Among the MVA allies, the Congress will contest on maximum of 103 seats followed by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on 89 and Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (SP) on 87 seats. Earlier, the alliance had announced that all the three parties would contest on 85 seats each. The elections to the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly will be held in a single phase on November 20 and the votes will be counted on November 23.