KCR unveils poll promises to counter Congress' guarantees

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) unveiled its own set of promises ahead of the November 30 assembly polls to counter Congress’s “six guarantees”, setting the stage for a competitive electoral race as the party led by CM K Chandrasekhar Rao aims for a third consecutive win in Telangana.
The party’s promises include various incentives for farmers and women, with plans to increase the Rythu Bandhu and Aasara pension amounts over time. Key proposals in the BRS manifesto include providing Rs 3,000 a month to poor women, offering LPG cylinder refills at Rs 400, and providing insurance to below poverty line (BPL) families and holders of white ration cards. “Eligible poor women would receive Rs 3,000 as assistance each month under the Soubhagya Laxmi scheme, excluding those who are employed,” KCR said. This is similar to Congress’s Maha Laxmi scheme, which offers women Rs 2,500 a month as aid.
BRS also intends to introduce the “KCR Bima-Prati Inti ki Dheema” insurance scheme, set to begin next June. To attract women voters, KCR pledged to provide LPG refills at Rs 400 for each cylinder, in contrast to Congress’s promise of Rs 500. Acknowledging the significance of farmers’ support, BRS announced that the Rythu Bandhu amount would be incrementally increased to Rs 16,000 over the next five years, with Rs 12,000 in the first year.
Aasara pensioners, a major vote bank for KCR’s party, will also benefit from the proposed increases, with plans to raise the pension to Rs 5,000 over time, starting at Rs 3,000 next year. Congress has promised to increase it from Rs 2,016 to Rs 4,000 if voted to office.
Pension for disabled people would also be raised from the current amount of Rs 4,016 to Rs 6,000 a month, BRS said.