Rahul seeks partnership between business and poor; says BJP balloon will burst

 The Congress Wednesday released its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, seeking to connect with the poor and the vast aspirational class by promising them more jobs, right to health and housing and said the BJP "balloon" will burst when results are out.

The manifesto "Your voice Our Pledge" was released by Congress president Sonia Gandhi at the party office here at 24, Akbar Road in presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders. 

The manifesto promised a new right to health, policies to lift 800 million people into the middle class and GDP growth rate of more than eight percent in the next three years. 

The Congress also promised an agenda to create 100 million more jobs for the youth.

The manifesto accused BJP of "divisive and disruptive ideology" with Congress leaders making veiled digs at party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. 

Sonia Gandhi said the the party was not fighting Lok Sabha elections only for heralding better economic development but also for keeping the constitutional structure intact. 

Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence about Congress returning to power after the Lok Sabha polls. 

The manifesto had an imprint of Rahul Gandhi, who held wide consultations over the past few months with a cross section of people including porters, farmers and fishermen to get their suggestions. 

The manifesto sought to portray Congress both as pro-poor and pro-business and a party that wanted to empower the citizens through rights-based legislations. 

"The country can grow by a firm partnership between business and poor. It cannot grow either by neglecting business or the poor. The best ideology to do this is Congress," Rahul Gandhi said at the manifesto release function. 

The manifesto said that the Congress will put in place charter of minimum "social-economic rights", including "right to health, right to pension, right to housing, right to social security, right to dignity and humane working conditions, and right to entrepreneurship."

Setting out a 15-point agenda for India's socio-economic and political transformation, the Congress promised to bring "two-thirds of India's population - the skilled hands that build the country - into middle class."

The party is clearly targeting people who were above poverty line but below the income level of the middle class. 

It said the Congress will ensure 10 percent growth rate in manufacturing, bank account for every Indian in five years, broadband internet to all panchayats in 18 months and "special envoy" to get back black money stacked abroad . 

Party leaders said there were 700 million people who were above poverty line and below middle class and the party will strive to raise their income levels to that of the middle class. 

The manifesto also talked of the new government's agenda for the first 100 days.

"The Congress will bring goods and services tax bill and direct tax code bill in parliament, announce a detailed jobs agenda to create 10 crore new jobs for youth," it said.

The manifesto noted that nearly 800 million Indians were below 35 years of age and getting decent jobs or entrepreneurship opportunities for people entering working age was "priority number one." It also spoke of measures to empower women. 

The Congress also promised $1 trillion investment in upgrading India's infrastructure.

The manifesto said the party will promote greater integration with the global economy and encourage Foreign Direct Investment to boost jobs.

Manmohan Singh, in his speech, spoke of "Congress model of development" and said performance of United Progressive Alliance government in its two terms was better than that of BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in areas such as agriculture growth, industrial growth, decline in poverty and GDP growth rate. 

"In all respects, record of Congress-led UPA government in creating opportunities and economic growth has been superior to NDA...there are attempts to spread misinformation," he said. 

Sonia Gandhi said the polls will be a struggle "for unity and not uniformity" and against one man leadership.

"All of us have an equal right in this country," she said. 

Rahul Gandhi challenged the perception that the BJP was most likely to win the Lok Sabha election and said "this balloon will explode".

He said BJP's claims now were akin to the "India Shining" ad blitz it carried out ahead of the 2004 Lok Sabha battle that the BJP lost to the Congress.

"The BJP has the ability to carry out India Shining campaigns... I am sure this balloon will explode."

"The result that will come will be surprising," he added. 

The stage had photographs of Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi but the largest photograph was of Rahul Gandhi interacting with common people of the country, an indication of his future role.