In a bid to appeal to women voters who constitute 50% of the electorate in the state, the Congress party in Telangana is shifting its attention towards women's welfare. The party is set to announce a series of welfare schemes, including free bus travel, subsidized domestic gas cylinder refills, and reservations for women in nominated posts if they come to power in the upcoming assembly elections later this year.
While the specific details of the schemes are yet to be finalized, the party is considering whether to declare them as part of an overall 'women declaration' or have AICC leader Priyanka Gandhi announce two or three major promises during her public meeting in Mahbubnagar district, where former minister Jupally Krishna Rao is expected to join the party. A decision on this matter will be taken in the coming days.
Telangana Congress working president, Mahesh Kumar Goud, highlighted the party's track record of implementing similar promises in other states. He stated, "We have promised free transport for women in Karnataka, and our government is implementing it. The party promised a cooking gas cylinder at Rs 500 per month in Rajasthan and has started giving it. We promised and restored the old age pension scheme in Himachal Pradesh. Every promise being made by the Congress will be implemented, and it will be done in Telangana too."
The Congress party has previously made declarations for farmers, youth, and senior citizens, promising various benefits and allowances. These include waiving off crop loans for farmers, providing financial grants to farmers, offering unemployment allowances and government jobs for the youth, and pensions for senior citizens and the poorer sections of society.
The party intends to release an overall 'women's declaration' in the next three to four months, with the aim of reaching every doorstep in the state. Mahila Congress state president M Sunitha Rao expressed her hope that Priyanka Gandhi would unveil the women's declaration, further emphasizing the party's commitment to women's welfare.
This strategic shift towards addressing the concerns and priorities of different voter segments reflects Congress' efforts to garner support and ensure a strong presence in the upcoming elections.
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