Congress to release its poll manifesto today, may promise to push for tougher anti-defection laws

The Congress will release its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls on Tuesday. The manifesto document will be released by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and all top party leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, will be present at the party's Akbar Road headquarters.

The grand old party had initiated a consultation process across the country and many of its top leaders had interacted with a host of people from different sections to seek their views on their aspirations from the party. The party's manifesto committee was headed by former finance minister P Chidambaram.

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As per the party’s official estimates, it has received a total of 31,875 inputs on its official manifesto website 

Sources have said that the Congress is likely to pledge for the anti-defection law in order to ensure automatic disqualification of lawmakers if they switch parties. They have also said that the manifesto will promise martyr status for central paramilitary forces personnel killed in action

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The manifesto is likely to include promises such NYAY, and various agrarian and indirect tax changes.  

The sources have said that the key areas of focus in the manifesto will be on NYAY, job creations, and redressal of farmers' woes. The manifesto will also have details of the party's much-publicised NYAY scheme.

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Rahul Gandhi had said that the manifesto will reflect the people's voice and not just one man's view while making a clear reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He had also said the manifesto will lay major thrust on jobs creation, addressing agrarian distress and strengthening the education and health sectors besides charting a roadmap to boost economic growth.

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