Karnataka Congress promises rice for Rs 2/kg, TV sets

Taking a cue from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Karnataka's Congress unit today came out with a populist election manifesto that promises rice for Rs two/kg, free colour TV sets and cheap loans for farmers and other groups.

Releasing the "highlights" of the party manifesto for the May elections, senior party leaders here said the below poverty line families would get 25 kg rice every month for Rs two per kg and a colour TV set.

Houses for 1.5 million homeless families would be built in five years, Yeshaswini health insurance scheme would be extended to all BPL families and all dues of Ashraya and Indira Awas Yojana (IAY) housing loans would be waived in three years, the manifesto said.