Karnataka: Rahul Gandhi to launch Gruha Lakshmi scheme in Mysuru as Congress eyes rich haul of Lok Sabha seats

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Rahul Gandhi will roll out the government's ambitious Gruha Lakshmi programme in Mysuru on Wednesday as the state leaders pin high hopes on the scheme to fetch votes for the party and improve its tally in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has chosen his home district to launch the programme, the fourth guarantee the Congress had pledged to implement on coming to power. So far, 1.08 crore women heads of families have enrolled.

They will get Rs 2,000 through bank transfer every month. The Congress strategists believe the success of the programme could earn the party about 3 crore votes in the general election, and boost Rahul Gandhi's profile in the national politics.

The Congress had turned in a poor show in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when it could win barely one seat out of 28 seats.

The BJP, on the other hand, won an unprecedented 25 seats and got one more seat as a bonus with the independent backed by it winning. The JDS too got just one seat as the BJP's mighty juggernaut rolled on.
The Congress is determined to exact a big haul of votes riding on the five guarantees, rattled by a survey report that it may win just about five seats in the upcoming election.

The party leadership has set a target of at least 20 Lok Sabha seats to local leaders. The election is also prestigious for AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge as Karnataka is his home state and even an average performance could dent his image.
Sources in the know told ET that the Congress is targeting women voters with the launch.

The party is already in favour with the demographic because of the Shakti scheme providing free rides for women across the state in government buses. The party may also use the launch as an opportunity to counter the