Caste census in focus as Cong unveils manifesto

The Congress on Tuesday released its manifesto for the Jharkhand assembly elections, promising to conduct caste-based census, increase the creamy layer cap for other backward classes (OBCs) from the current annual income of ₹8 lakh to ₹10 lakh, increase the free power supply from existing 200 units to 250 units per month, and filling all vacant state government posts within a year.

- Vishal Kant

The Congress manifesto was unveiled by party manifesto committee chairman Bandhu Tirkey a day before the first phase of polling for 43 of the 81 assembly seats in the state.

"This is not a manifesto but the voice of the people of Jharkhand. We have worked for them and will continue to do so in the future," Tirkey told reporters after unveiling the manifesto.

"Keeping in mind the interests of the tribals in Jharkhand, the manifesto committee held a chaupal in every district and interacted with the public. We made every effort to ensure that our manifesto is for the common people," he added.