Picture : ANI
The Congress government in Karnataka in its maiden Cabinet meeting accorded ”in-principle” approval to implement the Congress party’s five guarantees and initial estimates indicate that it would cost the exchequer Rs 50,000 crore annually, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said.
#WATCH | Karnataka swearing-in ceremony | Karnataka CM-designate Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM-designate DK Shivakumar display a show of unity with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/KxdvpWims1
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2023
The first Cabinet meeting was held immediately after Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister, and D K Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister along with eight MLAs as Ministers.
Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge, Ramalinga Reddy and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan took oath as ministers in the newly-elected Karnataka Government. Others include- Dr G Parameshwara, KH Muniyappa, KJ George and MB Patil.
#WATCH | Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi thanked the people of Karnataka for electing Congress in the recently concluded assembly elections and assured them that the newly-formed govt will work on the path of development of the state. pic.twitter.com/cvqr76fyFz
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2023
”It’s agreed upon. We will not go back (on the promises),” the Chief Minister said, adding, the assurances would be fulfilled notwithstanding financial implications, if any.
Siddaramaiah said initial estimation of the government is that the implementation of the poll promises would cost the exchequer Rs 50,000 crore a year.
The assurances promised before the elections would ”most likely” be implemented after the next Cabinet meeting, he said addressing a press conference here.
The party’s five poll guarantees are 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kilograms of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth, Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).
#WATCH | Opposition leaders display their show of unity at the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-elected Karnataka government, in Bengaluru. pic.twitter.com/H1pNMeoeEC
— ANI (@ANI) May 20, 2023
Political observers said the promise of guarantees found resonance with the people during the campaigning, particularly women, and played a key role in the stupendous victory of the Congress in the Assembly polls.
During the campaigning for the May 10 elections, Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi repeatedly assured the voters that these five guarantees would be approved in the first Cabinet meeting on the first day of coming to power.
Noting that the budget size of Karnataka is Rs 3.1 lakh crore, Siddaramaiah said: ”I don’t think it’s impossible for our government to raise Rs 50,000 crore a year (for the five guarantees)”.
We made 5 promises to you. I had said we don’t make false promises. We do what we say. In 1-2 hours, the first cabinet meeting of the Karnataka govt will happen and in that meeting these 5 promises will become law: former Congress president , Rahul Gandhi was quoted as saying by ANI
