To counter AAP, Punjab Congress working on women-centric manifesto

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

Taking a cue from the women-centric manifesto for the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, the Congress is working on a similar document in Punjab that goes to elections this year. Once prepared, the manifesto is expected to be launched by party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi.

Though Punjab affairs incharge Harish Choudhary and state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu have not specified the percentage of seats that will be reserved for women candidates as the party had done in Uttar Pradesh, it is learnt that the matter is under consideration subject to the winnability of candidates.

The women-centric document will focus on women’s education, empowerment, security and health. Besides, the promise of extending 33 per cent reservation to women working in the private sector will be included in the manifesto, sources say.

The AICC-appointed manifesto committee led by Rajya Sabha member Partap Singh Bajwa is expected to go through the document before it is approved by party leadership.

The sources say manifesto could also include Sidhu’s announcements made on Monday to woo women voters. He had announced Rs 2,000 per month and eight free LPG cylinders per year to homemakers, besides interest-free loans up to Rs 2 lakh to women for starting their ventures.

Since implementing Sidhu’s announcements has financial implications, these are still under discussion.

A senior leader clarified that to counter AAP’s announcement to offer Rs 1,000 per month to women, the Congress is considering a slew of measures for all ages of women and not only the voters.

On the lines of the Congress that had got forms filled from intended beneficiaries of unemployment allowance in 2017, the AAP this time is getting forms filled from homemakers, whose votes are crucial to winning the elections.

What to expect

• Thirty-three per cent reservation to women working in the private sector
• Aid of Rs2,000 per month and eight free cylinders per year to homemakers
• Interest-free loans up to Rs2 lakh to women for starting their ventures