MVA promises five key guarantees, including Rs 3,000 monthly aid, free bus rides to women : Valley Vision

As Maharashtra’s Assembly elections approach, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, consisting of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has announced five major guarantees aimed at providing economic and social support to various demographics.

This initiative mirrors the welfare-oriented strategy Congress recently implemented in Karnataka.

The guarantees were announced in Mumbai, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, NCP’s Sharad Pawar, and Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray leading the event. Gandhi framed the manifesto as a commitment to deliver “nyay” (justice) to all communities in Maharashtra, highlighting it as an ideological counter to BJP’s Hindutva policies.

MVA’s Five Key Guarantees

Mahalakshmi Yojana: A monthly support of Rs 3,000 and free bus travel for women and girls, aiming to provide economic relief and enhance mobility for women across the state.

Krishi Samruddhi Yojana (Farm Loan Waivers and Incentives): Farmers will receive a loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh, along with a Rs 50,000 incentive for timely loan repayments.

Caste Census and Reservation Policy: MVA has pledged to conduct a caste census and remove the existing 50% cap on caste-based reservations, aiming for more equitable representation.

Health Insurance and Free Medicines: The alliance promises Rs 25 lakh health insurance per household and free essential medicines at government hospitals to improve access to healthcare.

Unemployment Assistance: Unemployed youth will receive monthly support of up to Rs 4,000.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on the occasion criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning the BJP’s track record on promises such as job creation and financial deposits.

Gandhi echoed these sentiments, portraying the MVA’s policies as supportive of common citizens and protective of the Constitution.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also announced that the MVA would stabilize prices of essential goods, provide free education for boys in government schools, establish a minimum support price (MSP) for farmers, and enhance female representation in the police force, including establishing women-only police stations.

Thackeray reaffirmed his opposition to controversial projects like the Adani Group’s Dharavi Redevelopment Project. He committed to affordable housing for Mumbai’s “sons of the soil” (bhoomiputra) and vowed to prioritize local residents in redevelopment plans.

With voting set for November 20 and results on November 23, the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP are focused on contesting 102, 96, and 86 seats respectively. They are also coordinating with smaller allies such as the SP, PWP, and Left parties to finalize their coalition strategy.