The political landscape in Karnataka has been significantly shaped by competing promises of freebies from major political parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress. These promises, often framed as welfare schemes or guarantees, have become central to election campaigns, creating intense debate regarding their economic impact on the state. The discourse revolves around the financial burden these commitments might impose, the distinction between genuine welfare and electoral populism, and the potential consequences for the state's fiscal health.
The BJP’s Electoral Promises
During the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election campaign, the BJP made specific promises regarding freebies, distinguishing them from the opposition's offerings. The party's manifesto included a significant pledge to provide free cooking gas cylinders to families living Below the Poverty Level (BPL). Specifically, the BJP promised three free cylinders annually to these families. The distribution was planned to occur in three installments, timed with the festivals of Yugadi, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Deepavali (Source 4).
While the BJP criticized the "freebie culture" propagated by other parties, the party leadership defended their own promises as necessary welfare measures. BJP president JP Nadda articulated this distinction during the manifesto release, stating that the party was "taking care of the need, not the greed." He emphasized that schemes like the free cylinders and Ayushman Bharat were designed for empowerment and to ensure that the poor did not suffer, contrasting them with freebies intended solely for popularity (Source 4).
However, earlier statements from the party's state leadership suggested a different approach. In January 2023, a spokesperson for the Karnataka BJP, M G Mahesh, explicitly stated that the party was not going to proceed with the idea of freebies in the assembly election. He described the idea of giving freebies as "very dangerous for any state" and assured that the BJP would not touch the concept (Source 5). Another spokesperson, Ratan, added that the BJP would stick to its ethics and would not mislead the public with free promises (Source 5). This contradiction highlights a potential rift or strategic shift within the party regarding the use of freebies as an electoral tool.
Despite the rhetoric against freebies, the financial implications of the BJP's promises were noted by economic experts. The two main freebies announced by the BJP were estimated to impose a burden of Rs 12,000 crore on the state exchequer (Source 1).
The Congress Party's Promises
The Congress party, contesting the election against the ruling BJP, announced a series of guarantees that were projected to have a massive financial impact. The party promised six major free benefits in its manifesto. A key promise was the provision of 200 units of free electricity to every household, estimated to cost Rs 25,800 crores (Source 1).
Another major promise was the provision of Rs 2,000 per month to the woman head of every household. This was specifically targeted at women in BPL card holder families, of which there were 1.28 crore in the state at the time. The estimated cost for this scheme was significant (Source 1). The total burden of the three main freebies announced by Congress was estimated to be Rs 58,000 crore, a figure significantly higher than the estimated burden of the BJP's promises (Source 1).
The Congress leadership defended these promises as viable guarantees. When criticized by the Prime Minister regarding the financial stability of states implementing such schemes, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy DK Shivakumar pushed back, asserting the state's financial strength. Shivakumar stated that Karnataka's financial strength was stronger than that of the country itself, refuting claims of financial distress (Source 6).
The Congress campaign was bolstered by high-profile leadership, with AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announcing the Rs 2,000 monthly guarantee at a party convention (Source 2). The party's approach was seen as an attempt to mirror the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) model of providing freebies in Delhi, despite the fiscal challenges that model faced (Source 2).
Financial Impact and Economic Concerns
The competition between the BJP and Congress regarding freebies raised serious concerns among economic experts regarding the Karnataka state economy. The combined cost of the promises from the two major parties was projected to be overwhelming, especially as the state was recovering from the economic hardships of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns (Source 1).
Experts warned that the burden on the state exchequer would increase manifold, potentially leaving insufficient funds for capital expenditure, which is crucial for long-term development (Source 1). The expenditure on freebies was also feared to derail existing programs and affect planned ones due to a lack of funds (Source 2).
The financial estimates for the Congress promises were particularly staggering. The combined cost of 200 units of free power and Rs 2,000 per month for every woman head of household was estimated at Rs 45,000 crore per year (Source 2). This figure did not account for the existing support for debt-trapped electricity supply companies, which included Rs 21,000 crore raised against state government guarantees (Source 2).
The BJP promise of free cylinders, while lower in total estimated cost (Rs 12,000 crore), still represented a significant outgoing. The Congress's total estimated burden of Rs 58,000 crore for its three main freebies dwarfed the BJP's figures (Source 1).
The debate extended beyond the immediate election. The criticism of "freebie culture" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was noted to be ironic, as he simultaneously announced similar poll promises for other states. For instance, in November 2024, he announced an unemployment allowance of Rs 2,000 per month for youngsters in Jharkhand, a scheme similar to Congress’s ‘Yuva Nidhi’ in Karnataka (Source 3). This highlighted the widespread nature of such promises across the political spectrum, despite public criticism of their financial viability.
Conclusion
The 2023 Karnataka Assembly election witnessed a fierce competition between the BJP and Congress over the provision of freebies. The BJP promised three free LPG cylinders annually to BPL families, a measure defended as welfare for the needy. Conversely, Congress offered a broader package including free electricity and monthly cash transfers to women, projecting a much higher financial burden on the state. Economic experts expressed significant concern that these promises, totaling tens of thousands of crores, could strain the state's finances, divert funds from capital expenditure, and jeopardize economic recovery. The situation in Karnataka exemplifies the complex trade-off between populist electoral promises and fiscal prudence, a dynamic observed in Indian politics at both state and national levels.
Sources
- ETV Bharat: Congress outruns BJP in 'freebies race'
- New Indian Express: Politics of freebies enters Karnataka
- The South First: After slamming Congress guarantees, PM Modi announces freebies in Jharkhand
- LiveMint: Karnataka polls: Taking care of need not greed, BJP defends free cylinder promise, criticises freebie culture
- The Softcopy: Freebies free election for BJP
- India Today: Karnataka Congress poll promises row: Shakti scheme, PM Modi finances, freebies, GDP, foreign investment