How Congress feels its poll sops can checkmate BJP in Madhya Pradesh
In the election-bound state of Madhya Pradesh, the opposition congress is making a fresh offer in the ongoing freebie battle. On July 26, state unit president and former chief minister Kamal Nath said that, should his party win the election, farmers having connections for agricultural pumps using 5 hp (horse power) will receive free electricity.
The declaration was made as part of the Congress's Krishak Nyay Yojana and comes after a previous guarantee that all outstanding farmer debts in the state will be forgiven. Nath stated that all overdue farmer power bills will be forgiven and that all criminal charges pertaining to the power industry would be dropped.
The declaration was made as part of the Congress's Krishak Nyay Yojana and comes after a previous guarantee that all outstanding farmer debts in the state will be forgiven. Nath stated that all overdue farmer power bills will be forgiven and that all criminal charges pertaining to the power industry would be dropped.
Politics in mp has evolved to include competition between the governing bjp and the congress in announcing giveaways as the assembly elections get near. The conflict became more intense after the Shivraj Chouhan administration announced the Ladli Behna Yojana in June, which provides almost 12.5 million qualified women with a monthly payment of Rs 1,000. The Nari Samman Yojana, conceived by the congress, guaranteed each woman Rs 1,500 every month. The bjp then countered with a proposal to give women Rs 3,000 per month within a few years.
In the meanwhile, the congress had said that in addition to offering 100 free units of electricity and a 50% discount on the following 100 units consumed, it would also reinstate the Old Pension Scheme for government employees and offer cooking gas cylinders at a discounted rate of Rs 500.
Political observers in mp claimed that the congress sought to improve their giveaways after the bjp pledged to raise monthly rewards for women to Rs 3,000 per month and promised to make announcements relevant to the agriculture sector. The congress believes that its agriculture sector subsidies will hinder the BJP's potential advances in rural regions under the Ladli Behna Yojana.
According to Nath, hookups for agricultural pumps up to 5 hp will be free of charge. Farmers now pay a set fee of Rs 375 per month for pumps up to 5 HP. Consumers are responsible for the remaining 7.5% of the cost after the state government has covered 92.5% of it. The whole subsidy goes to consumers who are members of scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. According to the declaration made by congress, the 7.5% that customers are presently paying will also be covered by the government.
The total annual cost of the 3.7 million 5 hp pump connections in mp is around Rs 14,000 crore. The present 92.5% subsidy provided by the state government amounts to over Rs 13,000 crore. The government will have to pay an extra subsidy of Rs 1,000 crore to satisfy the congress commitment.
In the meanwhile, the congress had said that in addition to offering 100 free units of electricity and a 50% discount on the following 100 units consumed, it would also reinstate the Old Pension Scheme for government employees and offer cooking gas cylinders at a discounted rate of Rs 500.
Political observers in mp claimed that the congress sought to improve their giveaways after the bjp pledged to raise monthly rewards for women to Rs 3,000 per month and promised to make announcements relevant to the agriculture sector. The congress believes that its agriculture sector subsidies will hinder the BJP's potential advances in rural regions under the Ladli Behna Yojana.
According to Nath, hookups for agricultural pumps up to 5 hp will be free of charge. Farmers now pay a set fee of Rs 375 per month for pumps up to 5 HP. Consumers are responsible for the remaining 7.5% of the cost after the state government has covered 92.5% of it. The whole subsidy goes to consumers who are members of scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. According to the declaration made by congress, the 7.5% that customers are presently paying will also be covered by the government.
The total annual cost of the 3.7 million 5 hp pump connections in mp is around Rs 14,000 crore. The present 92.5% subsidy provided by the state government amounts to over Rs 13,000 crore. The government will have to pay an extra subsidy of Rs 1,000 crore to satisfy the congress commitment.