Karnataka:Senior Congress Leader R.V. Deshpande criticises ‘Guarantee Scheme’

By Manjunath K. Shresthi
October 14, 2025
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Good Economics makes bad politics, and bad economics makes good politics. Finally, there’s at least someone in the Karnataka Congress party, who finally has spoken against the government’s five guarantees. They were promised in the runup to the assembly polls held in the state in May 2023. The Congress won with a overwhelming majority then. And in November theyll complete 2.5 years.

Free travel for women was one of them. They had to show their ‘Aadhar Card’ and travel free of cos. It can truly be called women empowerment. But if one were to see the KSRTC buses, they’re swarming with the women folk. RV Deshpande, a nine times MLA from Haliyal-Joida -Dandeli in Uttara Kannada’ (UK) district northwest Karnataka. The MLA spoke about how there are no seats for men, and they’ve to pay for their tickets and not get a seat to sit. This is a daily scene in the buses plying in the roads in the state.

The senior leader’s been asked for a clarification about his remark he made in Dandeli. But he’s raised a valid point and the government’s policy makers must ponder.