Kolkata: With the Lok Sabha elections looming, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) unveiled its manifesto on Wednesday, outlining a series of promises aimed at addressing key issues and concerns facing the nation. Chief among these promises is the party’s commitment to repeal the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and discontinue the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam if it secures victory in the upcoming polls.
The manifesto, presented as ‘Didir Shopoth’ (Didi’s promise), serves as a rebuttal to the BJP’s ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ campaign. It aligns closely with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s vehement opposition to the NRC, CAA, and the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which she perceives as threats to the nation’s social and cultural diversity.
Former West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, currently serving as the Chief Economic Advisor to the state government, read out the manifesto. Among the key highlights is the pledge to replace the Ayushman Bharat health scheme with an enhanced version, offering coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh.
Furthermore, the manifesto vows to triple the number of scholarships for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes. It also commits to increasing the old-age pension for individuals aged 60 and above to Rs 1,000 per month.
In a bid to alleviate the burden of rising fuel prices, the TMC promises to cap the prices of petrol, diesel, and LPG cylinders. Additionally, it pledges to abolish the ‘price stabilization fund’ aimed at managing rate fluctuations.
The manifesto also outlines initiatives to support education and skill development, including offering one-year apprenticeships with a monthly stipend for graduates and diploma holders up to 25 years of age. It further proposes the provision of Student Credit Cards of up to Rs 10 lakh for those pursuing higher education.
At the forefront of the TMC’s agenda is the empowerment of women, with promises to extend financial aid at the national level akin to the ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ scheme in West Bengal. Additionally, the party pledges to provide scholarships for girl students in line with the successful ‘Kanyashree’ scheme implemented in the state.