Mallikarjun Kharge Advises Congress on Budget-Based Guarantees
In Bengaluru, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge advised Congress units preparing for elections to announce guarantees based on their budget. He emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility, warning that unplanned promises could lead to financial troubles and affect future generations. Kharge stated, “In Maharashtra, I’ve said that they shouldn’t announce 5, 6, 10 or 20 guarantees. They should announce guarantees based on budget. Otherwise, there’ll be bankruptcy.”
His comments followed discussions about the Karnataka government’s Shakti scheme, which provides free bus transport for women. Despite suggestions of a review, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy confirmed the scheme would continue.
Kharge Dismisses ‘One Nation, One Election’ Proposal
Kharge also dismissed Prime Minister Modi’s ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, calling it impossible without parliamentary consensus. He remarked, “What PM Modi has said, he will not do it because when it comes to Parliament, he has to take everybody into confidence; then only this will happen.”
Prime Minister Modi had promoted the initiative during the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations, suggesting it would strengthen democracy and optimize resources. The Union Cabinet had approved the proposal, recommending simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha, Assembly, and local bodies within 100 days, based on a report by a committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind.
Doubts Revealed
Mallikarjun Kharge -: Mallikarjun Kharge is a senior leader in the Indian National Congress, a major political party in India. He is currently serving as the National President of the Congress party.
Congress -: The Congress, or Indian National Congress, is one of the two major political parties in India. It has played a significant role in Indian politics since the country’s independence.
Budget-Based Guarantees -: Budget-based guarantees are promises made by political parties during elections that are based on the financial resources available in the government’s budget. This ensures that the promises are realistic and can be fulfilled without causing financial problems.
One Nation, One Election -: One Nation, One Election is a proposal to hold all elections in India at the same time. This means that elections for the central government and all state governments would happen together, which could save time and resources.
Fiscal Responsibility -: Fiscal responsibility means managing the government’s money wisely. It involves making sure that spending does not exceed income, so future generations are not burdened with debt.
Karnataka government’s Shakti scheme -: The Shakti scheme is a program by the Karnataka government that provides free bus travel for women in the state. It is an example of a government initiative that requires careful budgeting to ensure it is sustainable.
Parliamentary Consensus -: Parliamentary consensus means that most members of the parliament agree on a particular issue or proposal. It is important for making significant changes, like the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal, to ensure that all political parties support the decision.
Union Cabinet -: The Union Cabinet is a group of senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister of India. They make important decisions about the country’s policies and administration.
