Rs 1 Lakh promised to each Self-Help Groups in Telangana by Congress
Hyderabad, Oct 8: Seeking to woo women voters in the run up to the December 7 assembly elections in Telangana, Congress Monday announced various promises, including a grant of Rs one lakh each to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the state.
"For the six lakh groups, women (Self Help) groups... in Telangana,the next Congress government will provide a grant of Rs one lakh to each DWCRA (Development of Women and Children in Rural Areas) group," state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said, addressing a meeting of women organised by the party here.
He said Rs 10 lakh bank loan would be arranged for each SHG and its interest would be paid by the state government.
Reddy promised that all members of women SHGs would be given accidental and health insurance of Rs five lakh each.
Claiming that Congress governments in undivided Andhra Pradesh had strengthened women SHGs by giving them grants and others, Reddy alleged that the TRS government has completely neglected the groups.
He said the TRS government has 'insulted' women by not giving them any representation in the state cabinet.
Reddy expressed confidence that his party would emerge triumphant in Rajasthan and other states where elections will be held along with Telangana.
Telangana will go to the polls on December 7.
The assembly polls in Telangana were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections next year, but the Assembly was dissolved last month as per a recommendation made by the state cabinet.
Congress will be contesting the elections in alliance with TDP, CPI and others and talks are on among the parties parties on seat-sharing and a Common Minimum Programme (CMP).
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
