Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar hailed the Congress party’s poll promise of five guarantees as a significant decision, acknowledging that it was a challenging commitment. He expressed his belief that these guarantees could serve as a blueprint for other states, depending on their respective financial capabilities.
DK Shivakumar highlighted the disparity between government assistance to big businesses, such as loan waivers worth crores of rupees, and the need to support the common man. He emphasized that economic issues, joblessness and poverty are the core concerns that directly affect people’s lives, transcending ideological matters that do not alleviate their everyday struggles.
The Congress party aims to address these pressing issues through its five guarantees, which include providing 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), offering monthly assistance of ₹2,000 to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), distributing 10 kg of free rice to each member of below poverty line homes (Anna Bhagya), granting ₹3,000 per month to unemployed graduates and ₹1,500 to unemployed diploma holders between 18 and 25 years (YuvaNidhi), and facilitating free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).
Mr. Shivakumar emphasized that the implementation of these guarantees would be determined by the respective state units of the Congress party. The viability of adopting this approach in other states would depend on their financial strength and capacity to fulfill such promises.
Regarding the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, DK Shivakumar mentioned that the BJP and the JD(S) are forming an alliance in Karnataka. However, he expressed confidence in the Congress party’s prospects, citing their recent electoral success in ousting the BJP from power in the state assembly. The Congress party aims to win a significant number of parliamentary seats, setting a target of at least 20 out of the total 28 seats in Karnataka.
When questioned about his own aspirations to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar responded that only time will tell. He mentioned that he chose to remain patient and follow the advice of Congress leaders, including the Gandhis and Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Looking ahead, DK Shivakumar shared his vision for Karnataka, emphasizing the goal of creating a corruption-free state with good governance. He stressed the importance of job creation to retain local talent, prevent the outflow of human resources, and ensure the well-being of the citizens. Mr. Shivakumar expressed his commitment to the development of Bengaluru and the broader promotion of “Brand Karnataka.”
In conclusion, DK Shivakumar, as a senior leader of the Congress party, lauds the party’s poll guarantees and believes they can serve as a model for other states, taking into account their financial capabilities. He underscores the importance of addressing economic issues, unemployment, and poverty while working towards good governance and creating opportunities for the people of Karnataka.
