Amidst the hustle and bustle of India’s ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party has made a momentous declaration aimed at the empowerment and financial support of women hailing from the country’s poorest households. Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, in a bid to address the soaring inflation and its direct impact on indigent women, broadcasted a generous pledge — the ‘Mahalakshmi’ scheme — through a heartfelt video message on Monday.
The details of the scheme paint a picture of hope and support. “Hello, my dear sisters,” began Sonia Gandhi, acknowledging the struggles and contributions of Indian women throughout history, from the freedom movement to the sculpting of modern-day India. “However, today, our women are facing a crisis amid severe inflation.” To mitigate the plights of these women, the Congress leader announced that under the newly proposed ‘Mahalakshmi’ scheme, a sum of Rs 1 lakh would be disbursed annually to a woman from each impoverished family.
This generous proposal is not an isolated promise; it follows the legacy of impactful schemes by the Congress party. Sonia Gandhi reminded her audience of the Congress-led initiatives that have historically empowered millions, namely MNREGA, Right to Information, Right to Education, and Food Security. “Mahalakshmi is the newest guarantee to take our work forward,” she stated, affirming the party’s unwavering support to the country’s women during these challenging times.
While the Congress reassures its commitment to societal upliftment, the nation is engrossed in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, with 96 constituencies across nine states and one Union Territory actively participating. Early reports marked a voter turnout of 10.35 percent by 9 am.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh did not miss the opportunity to highlight a political challenge amidst the election environment. He pointed out that despite Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accepting an invitation to debate with the Prime Minister two days prior, the latter had not yet accepted the challenge. This insinuation was amplified through a taunting post on social media that mockingly referenced the Prime Minister’s ’56-inch chest’.
This phase also accompanies the simultaneous start of polling for all 175 seats of the State Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh and 28 seats of the State Legislative Assembly of Odisha. Among the 96 Lok Sabha seats involved in this phase, distributions include seats from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Jammu and Kashmir. In total, the Electoral Commission reports a submission of 4,264 nominations for these parliamentary constituencies.
Not only does this phase encompass a vast geographical stretch, but it also showcases key political contests among notable leaders. Among them are AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, TMC leader Mahua Moitra, and BJP leader Giriraj Singh. Diverse leaders from regional parties are also striving for electoral success, including JDU’s Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), TMC leaders Shatrughan Sinha, and Yusuf Pathan, BJP’s Arjun Munda and Madhavi Latha, and Andhra Pradesh Congress Chief YS Sharmila.
As India progresses through the third phase of the Lok Sabha polls, reports indicate a smooth and peaceful conclusion in 283 constituencies. As the elections continue to unfold, the bold promises of the Congress party, particularly for female empowerment and financial assistance, remain firm under the spotlight. Whether this grand economic pledge will resonate with voters and translate into electoral success remains to be seen as the nation’s political spectacle marches on.
