Interest-free business loans, free travel for women in KSTRC; Congress wraps Puthuyuga Yatra with 5 poll-promises
During the 25-day journey, the yatra witnessed a total of 121 public meetings held across the state.
During the 25-day journey, the yatra witnessed a total of 121 public meetings held across the state.
During the 25-day journey, the yatra witnessed a total of 121 public meetings held across the state.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress on Saturday laid out 5 major poll promises at the Puthuyuga Yatra led by Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan, which concluded at Putharikandam Maidan in Thiruvananthapuram. The promises, unveiled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, include interest-free business loans for youths and free travel for women in KSRTC buses.
Gandhi spoke to the gathering, making 5 major promises to the state if the UDF were elected into power. He proposed free transport for women in KSRTC buses, ₹1000 for college girls, raising security pensions to ₹3000, a health insurance scheme under former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's name, and interest-free business loans for youths.
Claiming that the CPM and BJP are working together, Gandhi referred to the alleged merger as CJP. He also questioned what is communist about the current government in Kerala, which claims to be "communist." Calling it the most corporatist government that the state has seen, Gandhi said that it is against the interests of the workers, farmers and small businesses. He also suggested that the Communist Party of India rename itself as the Corporatist Party of India.
Satheesan, in his closing address, called the yatra the greatest experience of his political life. Assuring the state that the UDF will help it overcome the government's failures, he proposed a "Neo-Kerala" model distinct from the outdated Kerala Model. He suggested introducing schemes in health, education, and agriculture to transform Kerala into a model for the nation.
During the 25-day journey, the yatra witnessed a total of 121 public meetings held across the state. The UDF also released several policy documents prepared through conclaves organised as part of the campaign. The policy document from the Health Conclave was unveiled in Kozhikode, while the Higher Education Conclave document was released in Thrissur. In addition, a dialogue programme titled 'Samvadikkam Puthuyugathinayi' was conducted at 14 locations.
Satheesan had framed the yatra as a future-looking political campaign rather than a routine exercise in government criticism. According to the UDF, the initiative focused on engaging with ordinary people facing everyday challenges rather than interacting with prominent public figures.