As the stage is set for the Haryana elections, both major contenders—the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress—have laid out their strategies. The Congress has promised seven guarantees, while the BJP has unveiled a comprehensive 20-point manifesto. With the future of Haryana at stake, it’s critical to analyze whether these promises are realistic or just political bait.
BJP’s Promises: Pragmatic or Pressurizing?
In its manifesto, the BJP has pledged several welfare schemes, including ₹2,100 per month for women under the Lado Lakshmi Yojana and LPG cylinders for ₹500 under the Grihini Yojana. Additionally, the party has promised scooters to rural female college students through the Awwal Balika Yojana.
While these promises could raise concerns about increased financial pressure, the BJP’s track record in implementing similar schemes without triggering financial crises in other states works in its favor. The BJP’s welfare schemes are backed by well-structured roadmaps, which detail how the funds will be sourced and managed. The promise of stability under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has historically won the trust of voters across the nation.
Congress’ Guarantees: A Repeat of Himachal Pradesh?
Congress’ strategy revolves around increasing the number of guarantees, a move that worked in Karnataka, where the party promised five guarantees, and Telangana, where it offered six guarantees. Now, Congress has promised seven guarantees in Haryana, hoping to end its decade-long political drought.
Key promises include ₹2,000 per month for women aged 18-60, 300 units of free electricity, free medical treatment worth up to ₹25 lakh, and LPG cylinders for ₹500. However, Congress’ past record shows these promises may not hold up financially. The example of Himachal Pradesh serves as a cautionary tale. After Congress introduced freebie announcements in the state, Himachal Pradesh has been grappling with a severe financial crisis, with even government employees struggling to receive their salaries and pensions on time.
Himachal’s debt has ballooned to ₹90,000 crore, and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has had to reconsider subsidies and announce that ministers will forgo salaries due to an empty state treasury.
Karnataka’s Early Warning Signs
In Karnataka, where Congress has been in power for less than 18 months, signs of financial strain are already emerging. Several ministers in Siddaramaiah’s government are pushing to reconsider the implementation of the five guarantees for the entire five-year term. One of Congress’ flagship promises—free bus travel for women—has caused Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to report losses of ₹295 crore in just three months. The state may be forced to raise bus fares by 20%, underscoring the financial challenges associated with such populist measures.
Can Congress Deliver on MSP and Jobs?
Congress’ promise of legal guarantees on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers raises further concerns. Despite Congress’ decade in power, it failed to adequately address the MSP issue, while the BJP government in Haryana has already extended MSP coverage to 24 crops.
Similarly, Congress’ promise of 200,000 permanent jobs for Haryana’s youth is met with skepticism. The previous Hooda government’s reputation for corruption and mismanagement leaves voters questioning whether Congress can be trusted to deliver.
The Drug-Free Promise: Déjà Vu in Punjab?
Another Congress guarantee is to make Haryana a drug-free state, a promise the party also made in Punjab during the 2017 elections. Despite Congress’ five-year rule in Punjab, this promise remained unfulfilled, and the same appears to be true under the current AAP government. Expecting Congress to deliver on this promise in Haryana seems unrealistic.
OPS and the Pension Dilemma
Congress has also pledged to reinstate the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) in Haryana. However, the plight of pensioners in Himachal Pradesh, where Congress introduced OPS only to face severe financial difficulties, makes this promise appear hollow. Voters are growing wary of Congress’ grandiose guarantees, as evidenced by recent assembly elections in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, and more recently in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Why BJP’s Promises Stand Out
Unlike Congress’ populist guarantees, BJP’s promises are grounded in practical planning. For example, the BJP began providing stipends to farmers in 2019—not as an election promise, but as a policy implemented while in power. The success of the Ladli Behna scheme in Madhya Pradesh, the Mahatari Bandhan scheme in Chhattisgarh, and the Subhadra scheme in Odisha further underscore BJP’s ability to deliver on its promises.
The BJP’s welfare schemes are backed by clear financial strategies, ensuring long-term sustainability. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP’s promises come with a credibility that resonates with voters, not just in Haryana but across the nation.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots, they face a crucial decision. While Congress offers seven guarantees, its track record of financial mismanagement in states like Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka raises red flags. On the other hand, the BJP, with its history of delivering on welfare schemes through structured roadmaps and fiscal prudence, presents a more trustworthy option for the future of Haryana.
Ultimately, the choice lies with the people of Haryana: Will they gamble on Congress’ populist promises, or will they place their faith in the BJP’s track record of governance under Modi’s leadership? The next five years will reveal which vision resonates more with the electorate.
