Himachal Pradesh election: Congress manifesto out, promises zero-interest farm loans up to Rs 1 lakh
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said the BJP has made it easier for the Congress by announcing Prem Kumar Dhumal as its CM candidate.
The Congress today released its election manifesto ahead of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly election and claimed that its manifesto is better than that of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who has been yet again named the Congress' chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming polls, said Kaul Singh Thakur-led committee has prepared the document after much deliberation and hard work. Virbhadra Singh said that the BJP has made it easier for the Congress by announcing Prem Kumar Dhumal as its chief ministerial candidate.
Kaul Singh Thakur, the health minister in the Virbhadra Singh government, said the Congress government has fulfilled 95 per cent of the promises made over the last five years. Thakur said the government has relentless worked towards development of Himachal Pradesh in its tenure.
Some of the promises made in the Congress' election manifesto includes farmer loan of up to Rs 1 lakh with zero interest, 50,000 laptops with 1GB data to school students. On the job front, the Congress claimed that it has provided employment to 75,000 people in the last five years, and promises to provide 1.5 lakh jobs if voted to power.
The manifesto also promises appointment of staff in newly-opened schools and colleges in Himachal Pradesh and stricter laws to deal with incidents of animal attacks on humans. Himachal Pradesh will go to polls on November 9 and counting of votes for the 68 Assembly seats will take place on December 18.
BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday announced former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal as the party's CM candidate at a rally in Himachal Pradesh. "BJP's focus is politics of development. We want to make Himachal corruption-free and initiate record development initiatives in the state," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted after Dhumal's candidature was announced.
The India Today-Axis My India poll has predicted a clean sweep for the BJP in the state, with the party likely to win on 43-47 of the 68 seats in Himachal Pradesh. The poll predicted 21-25 seats for the Congress.
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