After releasing manifestoes of respective parties, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav announced a 10-point Common Minimum Programme (CMP) in lucknow on Saturday. The CMP coined ‘Pragati Ke 10 Kadam’ exuded confidence of coming to power with other 300 out of 403 seats in the Assembly.
Despite grappling for consensus candidates in a dozen seats, both Rahul and Akhiesh claimed that all was well and the alliance was route to getting a clear majority and forming the next Government focussing on youths, farmers, women, infrastructure and development.
“This 10-point promise is the foundation of development of UP. Our Government will be meant for all but other parties are not speaking about it,” Gandhi told reporters after releasing the CMP along with Yadav.
“We want a Government of the youth and vision and these 10 points in the joint programme are foundations of development,” the Congress leader said.
On the other hand, Yadav thanked the people for supporting the alliance in a big way and claimed that the first phase of polling on Saturday will give a clear edge to the formation of the SP-Congress Government.
“I am happy with the initial voting trend in first phase of polling. The first votes went to SP-Cong alliance and so alliance will be ahead,” he added.
The two leaders claimed that the documents released by them focused on youth, farmers and women. The list of commitments also include distribution of free smartphones to youth, employment guarantee through skill development to 20 lakh youths, loan waiver and proper remuneration for crops.
It also commits to provide Rs1,000 monthly pension to one crore poor families and one time food at Rs10 to urban poor, 33 per cent reservation to women in Government jobs and 50 per cent reservation in panchayat and local bodies elections besides power, road and water to every village in five years.
Free cycles to all girl students of Class IX to XII and meritorious students, free homes to over 10 lakh poor Dalit and backward families, four-lane roads connecting all districts and Metro in six main cities also figure in the list.
For minorities and backwards, the alliance promises representation in ratio of their population in all welfare schemes. It also promises police modernisation for making it more effective and phased expansion of Dial-100.
Commitments also include promises made by Rahul Gandhi during his State-wide Kisan Yatra, such as loan waiver to farmers and reduction of power tariff for them -- a longtime demand of the Congress.
Reacting to PM Narendra Modi’s jibe of two clans joining hands, Yadav said, “I will say that two youths have come together. It is an alliance of the SP and Congress. These are 10 steps to development worked out by the two parties on which Congress and SP will work on coming to power in future.”