Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) has unveiled its manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, titled ‘Didir Shopoth’ (Didi’s Pledges). Alongside promises to uplift every Indian with guaranteed employment, universal housing, and more, the TMC pledges to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and halt the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) nationwide if the opposition’s INDIA bloc assumes power at the Centre.
1. Provide ration at the doorstep and offer 10 free cooking cylinders for BPL families.
2. Increase income for laborers and guarantee 100 days of work for all job card holders, with a minimum wage of Rs 400 per day.
3. Legally ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers, based on the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendations.
4. Offer one-year apprenticeships with a monthly stipend to all graduates and diploma holders under 25.
5. Cap the cost of petrol, diesel, and LPG cylinders to ensure affordability.
6. Provide student credit cards with up to Rs 10 lakh for higher education and triple the number of higher education scholarships for SCs, STs, and OBCs.
7. Increase the Old Age Pension to Rs 1,000 per month for individuals aged 60 and above.
8. Establish a Price Stabilization Fund to manage price fluctuations and distribute 5 kg of free ration per month to every ration card holder.
9. Ensure dignified housing for every poor family across the country.
10. Offer scholarships for female students akin to Kanyashree, financial aid similar to Lakshmir Bhandar, and health insurance coverage of Rs 10 lakh under Swasthya Sathi.
While the TMC exited the INDIA bloc in January over seat-sharing disagreements with the Congress in Bengal, it maintains its participation in the national-level INDIA bloc.
