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The Congress here has promised a range of freebies to voters if elected to power in next month's legislative assembly elections, of the kind it never did in the 15 years it was in power here till 2013.
The party was decimated in the previous Assembly poll, which had not given a clear majority to either of the other two main contenders, the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
First of the three to issue its manifesto, the Congress has promised to cut the rate for electricity supply to Rs 1.50 a unit for homes consuming up to 200 units in a billing cycle. For consumption beyond 200 units, a 50 per cent discount.
Pradesh chief Arvinder Singh Lovely says it can be done without any monetary subsidy. Instead, they'll be “reigning in the power companies” and cutting on transmission and distribution losses.
Following the AAP model, Congress is also offering lower bills for water supply, not charging for a sewer connection and to give concessional travel passes for students and senior citizens on the city's metro rail.
The present rate for power supply up to 200 units is Rs 2.80 a unit and distribution companies have on several occasions made it amply clear a reduction in rates is unrealistic. For, they note, domestic rates in Delhi are the lowest in the country's cities.
However, the Congress insists it "had the wisdom of three former power ministers — Ajay Maken, A K Walia and Haroon Yusuf — on the manifesto committee” and has only promised what it can deliver.
Reiterating its \"tried and tested\" experience of 15 years in power in Delhi, the Congress says unlike the AAP's controversial 49 days in power and the seven months of central i.e BJP rule, the Congress had a proven track record of far longer.
As for women safety, a major issue in Delhi consciousness, the Congress is proposing closed-circuit TV cameras in all constituencies, gender training for the entire government staff and training the police force on crimes against women. “What we are promising is not the moon like other parties but those that are deliverable, “ asserted campaign committee chief Ajay Maken.
Again taking a leaf out of the AAP book, the Congress is offering to set up internet cafes in all constituencies to enable poorer youth to avail of computers like those in better-off homes and WiFi services in all modes of public transport.
Also, a quota for poorer sections in higher education, extending it from the existing class XII level.
In a departure from the past, the Congress is also slated to release a second part of the manifesto in the coming days.
Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh today reacting to the Congress manifesto said, "It is strange how despite being 15 years in power in Delhi, the Congress never realized cheap electricity could be given to the citizens. They never gave electricity at such rates during their tenure. Similary, BJP is proclaiming that they will bring cheap power with LED lighting. In seven months of ruling the union government, there was no rate slash. Now they are all doing it under AAP's pressure. These parties can only talk but we make it happen. Within 48 hours of coming to power, we had announced cheap electricity for the poor."
