NEW DELHI: President of the Indian National Congress party Mallikarjun Kharge (centre) and party leader Sonia Gandhi (left) and candidate for Kerala's Wayanad constituency Rahul Gandhi pose for pictures during the release of the party's manifesto in New Delhi on Friday, ahead of India's upcoming general elections. — AFP NEW DELHI, Apr 05 (Reuters): India's opposition Congress party promised on Friday to lift a cap on affirmative action for marginalised castes if it wins power, although Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to sweep back to office in elections starting this month.
Congress, which has ruled India for more than 50 years with centre-left policies, has struggled in the past decade to compete with Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that counts the country's Hindu majority as its main vote base.
The seven-phase election starts on April 19, with vote counting on June 4.
More help for so-called backward castes and the poor irrespective of caste were among Congress pledges in its election manifesto, including assured jobs for the young, guaranteed prices for farm produce and higher health insurance.
"Congress has been the most vocal and active champion of the progress of the backward and oppressed classes and castes over the last seven decades," said the manifesto released by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who himself is from one of India's most backward castes.
"However, caste discrimination is still a reality."
Kharge listed out some of the key pledges with only a feeble response from party workers at a press conference, leading him to comment: "No claps, nothing!"
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