Rahul Gandhi To Open "Mohabatt Ki Dhookan" in Every State Across India
“In Karnataka, ‘nafrat ka bazaar’ (the market of hate) has closed down’ and”mohabbat ki dukaanein’ (the shops of love) have opened,” Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi said hours after his party toppled the then-incumbent BJP. Karnataka was a litmus test for both Rahul Gandhi”s political acumen and his exploratory campaigning.
During the Bharat Jodo Yatra, conducted ahead of the election, Rahul met with people from all walks of life and listened to their concerns as if he were one of them. This proximate involvement with the common man helped Congress in Karnataka as the state presented them with 135 seats, which was their biggest win by seats and vote share since 1989, as the people of Karnataka see Rahul Gandhi as one of them.
Moreover, the announcement of welfare schemes such as providing 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs. 2,000 monthly assistances to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs. 3,000 every month for graduate youth and Rs. 1,500 for diploma holders (both in the age group of 18–25) for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses have also helped Congress.
The victory in Karnataka gave impetus to Rahul Gandhi to open “Mohabatt Ki Dhookan” across India. Rahul campaigned in the recently held Assembly elections in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh with the confidence gained from Karnataka.
The exit polls published on Thursday reflects this scenario. According to the exit polls, the Congress is likely to be elected in Chattisgarh,Madhya Pradesh, and Telengana. During the election campaigns, Rahul tried to synthesize a close affinity with people. He interacted with truck and autorickshaw drivers and made a personal connection with them.
In Hyderabad, he stopped by while passing through a restaurant and had a chat with its employees and customers. He also interacted with various workers, vowing to provide a Gig Workers Act in Telangana, following Rajasthan”s 2023 law. He pledged to grant Rs. 12,000 to each auto driver, reduce pending challans by 50%, and establish a single-permit policy if Congress wins the upcoming assembly elections.
Congress also offered a farm loan waiver, Rs 15,000 to women every year, subsidies on gas cylinders, Rs 10,000 for landless laborers, a higher price for the procurement of paddy and tendu leaves, the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and other schemes.
Moreover, in Madhya Pradesh, Congress has promised reinstallation of the old pension scheme, gas cylinders at Rs 500, Rs 1,500 per month to women, and electricity subsidies akin to Karnataka, which gave them a thumping victory by validating these promises.
In Chhattisgarh, Congress strewed many promises, such as a farm loan waiver, Rs 15,000 to women every year, subsidies on gas cylinders, Rs 10,000 for landless laborers, a higher price for the procurement of paddy and tendu leaves, the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), etc.
Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi provided more opportunities to youth and women in the party. He vowed that Congress would reserve 50% of chief ministerial posts for women within 10 years.
If the promises and campaigns yield a victory for the Congress, that would be a crowning achievement for Rahul Gandhi.
