Bengaluru, Jan 18: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday termed the Congress' new "guarantee" of giving Rs 2,000 every month to the woman head of households if voted to power, as an 'attempt to mislead' the people of the state ahead of Assembly polls, out of desperation.

With a similarity in the Congress' poll guarantee to the one that his government is currently working on, the Chief Minister said he had announced it as a "serious programme", while they have only said such a programme will be rolled out on coming to power.

"They are desperate, despite all the circus and publicity they have got to know that they will not be elected, they are in a way trying to mislead the people, such things don't work."

Speaking to reporters here, Bommai said the Congress party has lost the trust and many such announcements will come in the days ahead.

"My question is, they could have done it while in power, why didn't they do it, now what is the guarantee that they will do it? They have not fulfilled the promise made then, now what is the guarantee that they will fulfill this now," he asked and said his announcement will be fulfilled and the government will implement it considering financial and other factors.

AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi had announced the 'Gruha Lakshmi scheme', a promise to provide Rs 2,000 every month to women head of households on coming to power, while addressing Na Nayaki' (women's) convention on Monday here.

Last week, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he was working on a similar cash scheme for women-led households in the upcoming 2023-24 Budget.

Also, the Congress last week promised the 'Gruha Jyoti scheme', under which all households will get 200 units of free electricity every month.

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Thane (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for repeatedly targeting him and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and claimed that he is eager to reclaim the PM's post instead of paving the way for the next generation.

Addressing an election rally in Thane to canvass for incumbent MP and his party candidate Rajan Vichare on Thursday, Thackeray called the contest a clash between loyalty and betrayal.

The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has nominated Naresh Mhaske for the Thane Lok Sabha constituency, which along with 12 other seats, including six in Mumbai, will vote in the fifth phase on May 20.

The contest in Thane is a prestige battle for Shinde, an influential leader from the region who split the original Shiv Sena in 2022 and aligned with the BJP.

However, Thackeray mainly focussed on Modi and his policies. He accused Modi of stirring controversies through his rhetoric and claimed that the BJP is shifting its narratives, from pledges of securing a majority to allegations of dynasty politics.

The Sena (UBT) hit out at Modi for repeatedly targeting him and Sharad Pawar. In his recent speeches, Modi had called Thackeray's party "nakli Sena" and described Pawar as a "bhatakti aatma" (wandering soul).

Modi is eager to get back the PM's post instead of paving the way for the next generation, he claimed.

Thackeray defended the coalition model, citing its past successes and contrasting them with the perceived stagnation under single-party rule.

Thackeray said Shiv Sena and Thane share a unique bond as the city gave the party a foothold in its early days, he added.