Gujarat Assembly election | Congress promises to regularise 15 lakh contractual, outsourced employees if elected

The Congress also promised that people who want to regularise illegal constructions will be allowed to do so for free

The Congress on October 23 said regular government jobs will be provided to nearly 15 lakh youths working on contract or as outsourced staff in different State-run entities and departments if the party is voted to power in Gujarat.

The announcement was made by the Opposition party's State unit working president and MLA Himmatsinh Patel, a day after the Congress Government in Rajasthan approved rules aimed at regularising contractual staff.

The Congress also promised that people who want to regularise illegal constructions will be allowed to do so for free.

"This pro-people decision by the Rajasthan Government will benefit nearly 1.10 lakh youths. On the same lines, our party, if voted to power in Gujarat, will regularise nearly 5 lakh contractual and 10 lakh outsourced staff. These youths are being exploited at present under the ruling BJP," Mr. Himmatsinh Patel told reporters in Ahmedabad.

When asked if Congress is trying to counter the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by making such a pre-poll promise, Mr. Himmatsinh Patel said people know very well which party is capable of delivering.

"Other parties are making promises for the sake of it. Congress has a long history of fulfilling promises and introducing pro-people schemes and laws, be it MNREGA, mid-day meal, free education and right to food," said Mr. Himmatsinh Patel, flanked by Gujarat Congress vice-president Jitu Patel.

Notably, AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced 10 lakh government jobs in Gujarat if elected to power in the Assembly elections, due in December this year.