Despite being vocal against freebies culture in other states, it seems that the main Opposition Congress Party in the State is leaving no stone unturned to allure the voters. After ‘Nari Samman’, a scheme to provide direct monetary gain to women voters, now, the Madhya Pradesh Congress has come up with another announcement pertaining to free power with a catchy slogan in Hindi ‘Saou Unit Maafsau Unit; 200 Unit Half’ PCC Chief Kamal Nath said that if Congress comes to power, then it will provide free electricity up to 100 units. In addition to this, half tariff for 200 units. Consumers whose electricity usage goes to 200 units, will have to pay just half of the total incurring cost. PCC chief is on tour in poll-bound State. Addressing the gathering at Malwa region, PCC chief Kamal Nath made this announcement. Till now, Congress was talking to start again the scheme of 100 units of power for Rs 100 (BJP government has discontinued), which it introduced after coming to power in 2018. However, on Thursday, Kamal Nath made a bigger promise by promising 100 units of free power and 200 units at half cost. In Rajasthan too, the Congress government has implemented free electricity up to 100 units from this month. It seems that free electricity tactic is proving a time tested formula in political corridors.

In 2018 in Madhya Pradesh, the Kamal Nath led government had given a measure of relief to the denizens, it had fixed Rs 100 rates for consumption of 100 units. BJP government has discontinued this. Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party, despite witnessing bitter battles over freebies, has been providing free power in Delhi and Punjab, the two states where it is in power. In addition to free electricity, Madhya Pradesh Congress also announced the revival of the Old Pension Scheme for government employees. Pradesh Congress’ ‘Nari Samman’ is being seen as a tool to counter the State Government’s newly-launched ‘Ladli Bahana’ Scheme.

Terming Kamal Nath’s promise a bogus, BJP leader and Minister Dr Prabhu Ram Choudhary has said that it had promised stipend for students, free electricity and farmers loan waiver scheme, nothing was implemented when the Congress was in power in 2018. At present, BJP government is contributing subsidy of crores of rupees on power.

People find little ambiguity and seek more clarity about Kamal Nath’s promise asking whether the 200 units at half tariff will be in addition to the 100 units of free electricity, or whether those using up to 200 units will pay half tariff.