In Gujarat, Congress promises low-cost housing for poor, hopes to oust Narendra Modi

Ahmedabad: In a desperate attempt to stop Narendra Modi from winning a third consecutive term in Gujarat, the state Congress has come up with a unique idea to attract voters who are below the poverty line.

The party has promised to provide low-cost housing to women. The scheme, Homes for Women, targets both working and unemployed women and offers free land. They will have to pay only Rs 75,000 to 2 lakhs for construction of homes.

The offer has driven thousands queuing up to collect forms to enrol for the scheme. The Congress claims more than 25 lakh forms have been dispatched to several districts and rural centres on rising demands. Congress spokesperson Narhari Amin said, "Narendra Modi has been fooling people with his false announcements. We have assured that once there is a change of government in the state, we will ensure that 15 lakh women who don't have houses will get new houses."

Questions have been raised over the legitimacy of such sops to win elections. But the Congress defends it by saying that it is a part of its 12-point manifesto. BJP spokesperson IK Jadeja said, "In their 40 years of rule they just managed to make 12 lakh houses for the poor. In 11 years of Mr Modi's rule we have given over 20 lakh houses to the poor."

However, people are not bothered about the debate. Those who have enrolled in the scheme hope to have a new home at an affordable price. One such voter said, "For the last ten years we haven't had houses. We will vote for the party who will ensure we get our homes."

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This isn't the first time that a key opposition has promised sops to voters to come to power; Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had promised free laptops before assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa too promised free gold mangalsutras for poor women of her state. This time, it is the Congress in Gujarat which hopes such a scheme could help them regain the state after ages.