Congress releases manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir elections

Congress on Monday released party manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the first-phase polling on September 18, 2024.

Jammu and Kashmir goes to polls in three phases -- September 18, September 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 8.

The manifesto was released by AICC chief spokesperson Pawan Khera and PCC president Tariq Hameed Karra at the party office in Delhi.


The NC and Congress have entered a pre-poll alliance, with the Farooq Abdullah-led party contesting 51 seats and the Congress on 32. The CPI(M) and the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) have each been allocated one seat while both parties are having a "friendly contest" on five seats.

Poll promises

The Congress' manifesto for the Assembly elections promises a slew of welfare measures for farmers, women and the youth.

• The highlight of the manifesto -- Haath Badlega Halaat -- is insurance for all crops against natural calamities and a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 72 per kilogram for apple.
• "We will provide an additional financial support of Rs 4,000 for landless, tenant, and land-owning farming households per year. We will also arrange 99-year leases to landless farmers cultivating state land," Khera said.
• The party announced setting up a Rs 2,500-crore fund for all district-level irrigation projects to ensure 100 per cent irrigation for farmers in Jammu and Kashmir.
• For the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, the party promised an unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 per month for one year to qualified youths.
• The party promised to fill one lakh vacant government posts by issuing a job calendar within 30 days.

(With inputs from PTI)