Eyeing polls Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot announces freebies

Keeping an eye on the forthcoming assembly election in the state, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot has announced several sops, including free electricity, reducing prices of fuel and discounted travel for women in state Roadways buses, to woo the electorate.

Source: Twitter

Gehlot, who faces a rebellion from his one-time deputy and senior party leader Sachin Pilot, announced 100 unit free electricity with less charges on 200 unit electricity or more.

To woo with the voters the CM also started "Mehngai Rahat Campaign". Now, Congress government has announced some other reliefs also which includes:

• Less charges on power consumption from 200 to 300 Unit
• Discounted travel for women in Roadways buses
• Annpurna Kitchen Kit
• Petrol- Diesel to be cheaper by Rs 3 per litre

Free power:

At present 100 unit electricity is already free in the state. It may be recalled that the Congress had announced 200 Units free electricity in Karnataka before the assembly election there. The strategy worked and now the same can be used in Rajasthan also before elections.

Source: Daily Pioneer

Discounted travel for women in Roadway buses:

In 2013, 30% discount was offered in roadway buss’s ticket for women by present CM in Rajasthan which still exists. It was increased by 50% in 2023 which was allowed in Roadway buses only. But now it is applicable in private-AC buses also. Free travel scheme has given in Karnataka by Congress government. It is possible that this scheme can be launch in Rajasthan soon.

Annpurna Kitchen Kit:

To give relief to the BPL (Below Poverty Line) families Annpurna Kitchen kit scheme could be start. In this scheme families will have domestic stuffs (Oil, Spices, Flour, Gram flour, Rice, Pulse as name). Tender is processing for it. Probably it will start in August.

Petrol- Diesel cheaper by Rs 3 per litre:

Petrol- Diesel is Rs 108-109 per litre in Rajasthan right now. VAT is Rupees 28. CM Gehlot had reduced the price of Petrol by Rs 2.48 in May 2023. Now it is expected that the prices of Petrol – Diesel would be reduce by Rs 3 per Litre.

An eye on Lower- Middle class:

Before the assembly election Rajasthan government is focusing on those areas which comes in lower or middle class category to provide them some financial benefits. Recently, the state government organised a relief camp in which 1.40 crore people got their relief cards made.

Financial condition of the state:

CM Gehlot had done a six-monthly review (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management-FRBM Act) of the state's financial condition on November 25-2022. 23% increment was seen in State's funds. Then he presented the budget on the theme of savings, relief and growth in February 23. Now a six-monthly review has been done again in the last week of May, in which the economic condition of the state is showing better again. CM will release this report soon. According to sources more freebies are in the offing.