The Congress too has jumped on the ‘power game’ bandwagon by promising to slash power tariff to Rs1.50 per unit for consumption of up to 200 units per month against the current rate of Rs2.80, which includes subsidy of Rs1.20. The party also promised to cut tariff for higher slabs by offering a 50 paisa discount per unit.
Ahead of its arch rivals the BJP and the AAP, the Congress on Friday released the first part of its ‘please all’ manifesto for the Assembly elections by promising unprecedented power and water reforms in the National Capital.
Part-II of the manifesto will be released after two days that will present a roadmap for all its promises made in the manifesto.
Highlighting its achievements under former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s administration, the Congress asked voters to return it to power as it was the only party, which had both trusted and tested leaders to take the development works forward.
The party also promised to waive off all water and sewer bills for every domestic households and said its Government would not charge for future sewer connection. It also promised to effect power reforms by allowing more discoms in the city.
The Pioneer has earlier reported that Congress manifesto would promise to reduce power tariff if it comes to power. Power tariff has been a major issue and a section in the Congress feels the AAP could make a spectacular debut in 2013 Assembly polls as the party had promised to cut tariff by 50 per cent. At present, the power companies have been selling electricity at Rs 3.90 per unit to those whose monthly consumption is up to 200 units. The Centre has been providing a subsidy of Rs 1.20 per unit in this slab. Those, consuming between 201 and 400 units a month, are charged at Rs 5.80 per unit by the power companies. The Centre has been providing subsidy of 80 paise per unit in the second slab. There is no subsidy for those who consume more than 400 units every month. The one's who fall in the 400 unit plus consumption slab are charged Rs 7 per unit.
In 2013, the Congress manifesto appealed for “stability” as the party found itself in the midst of the first ever three-cornered contest with the BJP and the AAP.
In the 16-page manifesto released jointly by Delhi Congress president Chief Arvinder Singh lovely, party's Delhi Election Campaign Committee chief Ajay Maken and AICC-in-charge of Delhi PC Chacko, the Congress highlighted achievements of UPA regime as well as of the Sheila Dikshit dispensation. lovely made it clear that the manifesto answers not just 'what' but also 'how'. “We are only making promises that can be fulfilled. We are not promising Moon to the people of Delhi, we are making promises that could be fulfilled. Our manifesto is different from the BJP and the AAP as we don't write just anything in it, we would do what we have promised,” lovely said.
The party also promises to renew its demand for full statehood of Delhi for “effective governance without any shackles. This is the first time that Congress has promised full statehood to Delhi (barring matters related to the security of the Union Government and the diplomatic core). This is the only promise which Congress is making since 1993. The manifesto also promises setting up cyber cafes for students, concessional metro passes for students, all families eligible for the 'annashree yojna' to be given seven kg wheat and one kg rice per person, amendment in Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC), ownership right to JJ clusters, regularisation of unauthorised colonies with relaxing the existing norms, extension of lal dora, women safety, wi-fi in transport service, regularisation of contract employees who worked for four years, including home guards, increase in pension to all deserving categories to Rs 2,000 per month, hike in the salary of Aganwadi workers by up to 50 per cent, 24x7 diagnostic centres in the State-run hospitals and ensuring graft free administration.
lovely termed manifesto as like “Gita and Quran” to the party saying it has made promises which could be fulfilled.
On education front, the Congress also promises to reserve 85 per cent seats for the city students in the State Government colleges and set up 20 new colleges under Ambedkar University and also 150 schools which would be run in two shifts.