DELHI VOTES 2025: Congress promises Rs 2,500 for women, 300 free power units

With a promise to have a dedicated Ministry for Purvanchalis, 33% reservation for women in government jobs and regularisation of contractual staff in government sector, the Congress on Wednesday unveiled its manifesto for the Delhi Assembly elections.

The party further promised five guarantees to Delhi voters — a monthly assistance of Rs 2,500 for women, free health cover of up to Rs 25 lakh, 300 units of free electricity, one-year apprenticeship for unemployed youth and a stipend of Rs 8,500 per month, and LPG at Rs 500 per cylinder along with a free ration kit.

Despite not winning a seat in the Delhi Assembly in a decade, the Congress is attempting to reconnect with Delhi residents, promising reforms if it returns to power.

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, “We have launched our manifesto, taking into account the ambitions and hopes of all Delhi residents. All our promises, including the five guarantees, are intended to improve the quality of people’s lives and address current issues.”

The manifesto, divided into 22 sections, includes a provision of Rs 1.1 lakh for the wedding of widows’ daughters; and a proposal to establish 100 Indira canteens across the city, where meals would be offered at a nominal price of Rs 5 per plate. Additionally, 7.5 lakh street vendors would be given better opportunities.

The party has promised to establish 24-hour dispensaries in each ward, along with 10 multi-specialty hospitals. It would overhaul the city’s sewerage infrastructure and ensure that only treated water is discharged into the Yamuna. It further said it would reintroduce the Bhaagidari Yojana for NGOs to run programmes at the local level. It would provide ownership rights to residents of unauthorised colonies as well as affected people after resettlement.

The Congress has assured all Delhi residents that they would get 24-hour access to clean drinking water. Besides, pension for senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities would be increased to Rs 5,000 per month. The party would restore 15,000 civil defence volunteers; promote welfare of transgender persons by providing them scholarships, hostels and accessible washrooms in public spaces; and reopen recruitment for persons with disabilities.

The manifesto read that 35,000 flats built under the Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojana (2007-2010) would be allocated to residents of JJ clusters free of cost, with guarantees that no resident would be evicted without prior rehabilitation. The number of electric and hydrogen buses operated by the Delhi Transport Corporation would be increased by 500 per year; and a monorail system connecting key areas like Burari village, Amrit Vihar and Ring Road would be established, it added.