UP polls: Congress prepares separate manifesto for women, promises free LPG cylinders, bus rides

Congress is facing an uphill task of consolidating its support base in Uttar Pradesh and Priyanka Gandhi is going all out to woo women in her election campaigns

Seeking to make inroads into the vote banks of its rivals in the forthcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, due in four months, Congress which has been reduced to a fringe player in the state politics has come out with a separate election manifesto for the women promising a host of welfare projects for them in case the party forms the next government.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday took to Twitter to make the announcement. ''You (women) have to struggle every day...we appreciate it and have prepared a separate women manifesto for you,'' she said.

Also Read | Akhilesh Yadav to not contest upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls

She said that 40 per cent reservation would be given to the women in the appointment for the new posts in the government departments and also promised a widow pension of one thousand rupees per month.

Priyanka also promised to increase the wages of the Anganwadi and Asha workers to Rs 10 thousand, free rides for the women in government buses and three free gas cylinders in a year besides setting up 75 skill schools across the state in the names of women icons of the state.

Also Read | BJP pushes brand Modi in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand

The Congress leader had already declared that her party would give 40 per cent tickets to the women in the next assembly polls.

''Women will have to have to themselves fight their battle.....we will fight for you (women)......the politics will change when 40 per cent women enter the field,'' she said.

Political analysts here view Priyanka's announcements for women as an attempt to make a dent into the vote banks of her rivals. ''Apparently, she thinks that the women may take a different line when it comes to voting....she is banking on that....it may be difficult in a state where caste and religion play a crucial role in the election,'' remarked a political analyst here.

Watch the latest DH Videos here: