Congress Dumps Key Promise! Priyanka Gandhi’s Push Ignored in Manifesto Shake-Up

Old Pension Scheme (OPS) promise from the latest Congress manifesto has ignited significant debate. Notably championed by Priyanka Gandhi, OPS’s exclusion has prompted P. Chidambaram, a prominent party figure, to assert its continued importance, contingent upon the forthcoming report by a government committee tasked with evaluating both the National Pension Scheme (NPS) and OPS demand.

Chidambaram clarifies that while OPS isn’t entirely absent, it remains a focal point for consideration. He underscores the government’s decision to convene a committee, led by the finance secretary, to delve into the OPS versus NPS debate and devise a sustainable funding mechanism aligned with OPS objectives. “This marks a shift in government perspective – recognizing OPS’s benefits to pensioners, while ensuring financial sustainability through NPS,” he explains.

However, Chidambaram underscores the necessity of awaiting the committee’s report before firming up a stance on the OPS-NPS issue. Discussions preceding the manifesto release revealed that OPS’s inclusion was the result of persistent advocacy from leaders like Priyanka Gandhi, despite its initial absence in the draft manifesto presented to the Congress Working Committee.

In retrospect, Congress initially pledged OPS during the 2022 Himachal Pradesh assembly elections, attributing some electoral success to this promise. OPS later featured in the manifestos for the 2023 Karnataka and Telangana assembly polls, while Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan implemented the scheme. However, electoral outcomes in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan did not meet the party’s expectations.

Despite the introduction of the NPS during the Vajpayee-led NDA government in 2004, Congress stalwarts like Manmohan Singh and P. Chidambaram commended the scheme. Presently, many within Congress believe opposing NPS could compromise the party’s legacy without significant gains.

Internally, the party holds differing views on OPS implementation. Praveen Chakravarty, head of the party’s data analytics department and a member of the manifesto committee, expressed last December, “OPS isn’t a significant game-changer in elections… It’s unjust, taxing the majority to benefit a small privileged group.”

The exclusion of OPS from the 2024 Lok Sabha election manifesto signifies a recalibration within the party regarding its electoral impact. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others advocated for its inclusion during Congress Working Committee meetings. Meanwhile, Chidambaram, former finance minister under Dr. Manmohan Singh, previously supported the New Pension Scheme introduced during Vajpayee’s tenure in 2004.

Q: Why did the Congress exclude the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) promise from its latest manifesto?

A: Despite Priyanka Gandhi’s advocacy, the OPS exclusion reflects a recalibration within the party, pending a government committee’s report on OPS and the National Pension Scheme (NPS).

Q: What prompted the Congress to reconsider OPS inclusion in its manifesto?

A: Persistent advocacy from leaders like Priyanka Gandhi prompted a reevaluation, with the OPS inclusion stemming from internal deliberations and differing views on its electoral impact.

Q: Who supports the OPS within the Congress party?

A: While Priyanka Gandhi and others advocate for OPS inclusion, P. Chidambaram emphasizes its importance contingent upon the committee’s report, highlighting internal divisions on the matter.

Q: What is the potential impact of the OPS exclusion on Congress’s electoral strategy?

A: The OPS exclusion signifies a shift in the party’s approach, with implications for its electoral strategy and internal cohesion, reflecting the complexities of pension reform debates within the party.