The Congress on Wednesday released its election manifesto in Himachal Pradesh, promising interest-free loans to farmers, free laptops to 50,000 college students and 1.5 lakh jobs in the government sector. In the manifesto, the party claimed that it fulfilled 95% of its poll promises from the last term, and said it will implement the remaining in the next term.

Voters will cast their ballot for the state Assembly’s 68 seats on November 9. Votes will be counted on December 18. The Congress has fielded incumbent Virbhadra Singh as its chief ministerial candidate.

The ruling Congress promised that the wages for labourers employed in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act will be increased from Rs 150 to Rs 350 per day. Farmers have also been promised subsidies for crop protection. The party also said an anti-corruption grievances commission will be set up.

Here are other highlights of the Congress manifesto:

  •   Private bus permits will be given to youth to generate self-employment.
  •   Contractual employees will be regularised within two years and pension will be increased by 5%-15% for various age groups.
  • Decentralisation of administrative powers in panchayat level.
  •  Marriage grant for daughters of widows to be raised to Rs 1 lakh.
  • Stricter policies to deal with stray cattle and monkey menace in the state.