It is that time of the year in Karnataka when political parties are out in full strength, trying to woo the common man. From waiving off loans to farmers to demanding reservation for Kannadigas in IT companies, they are not taking any chances. Here’s a quick snapshot of the promises made by the state’s leading three political parties.
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| JANATA DAL (SECULAR) |
 - Will write off every farmer’s debt in a year. Loans of farmers who committed suicide will be waived. Besides, all housing loans of poor farmers, village craftsmen and low-income group artisans’ will be written off.
- Free stove and cooking gas for BPL families. The Government will support education of children of BPL families in private schools and colleges.
- Government will stand guarantee for bank loans raised by educated unemployed for self-employment schemes.
- Will implement Justice Sachar Committee report for welfare of minorities.
- Will constitute Bangalore Comprehensive Planning Authority and earmark Rs 8,000 crore to enhance infrastructure in state capital.
- Will press for reservation for Kannadigas in IT and BT companies.
- Would scrap the Common Entrance Test and agitate for classical status for Kannada.
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| BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY |
 - 28kg rice at Rs 2 a kg for rural poor. Two categories of poor: families with annual income of Rs 30,000 will be declared "extremely poor", those between Rs 30,000 and Rs 60,000 will be classified "poor".
- Loans at 3 per cent interest rate to be disbursed to farmers, weavers, fishermen and artisans.
- A revolving fund of Rs 500 cr to provide agricultural support price for farmers and production assistance of Rs 2 a litre of milk to dairy farmers.
- Free supply of power to about 1.6 million irrigation pump sets, community halls with colour TVs across the state and cyber cafes with Internet connectivity in all villages.
- An action plan to make Bangalore city an "internationally prominent metropolis".
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| CONGRESS |
 - Quick implementation of UPA's Rs 60,000 cr loan waiver scheme, waiver of loans given to rural poor for "Ashraya" housing scheme and those of Rs 25,000 borrowed from SC/ST, Backward Classes and Minority Development Corporations in the state.
- 25 kg of food grains (rice, jowar, wheat) at Rs 2 a kg for about 6.4 million BPL families.
- Loans at 3 per cent interest rate to farmers, women self-help groups, potters, handloom weavers, fishermen and shepherds.
- Stipend of Rs 1,200/month for educated unemployed for two years.
- Upgrade urban infrastructure at a large scale: investment of Rs 50,000 cr over 5 years for development of infrastructure in Bangalore.
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