Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday unveiled the party’s manifesto for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections in Kolkata, positioning the party as a formidable “third alternative.” Flanked by senior leader Jairam Ramesh and state leadership, Kharge announced a slew of welfare schemes aimed at countering the TMC’s current populist measures.

The manifesto’s highlights include the ‘Durga Samman’ scheme, promising ₹2000 monthly assistance for women, and free education up to the post-graduate level. Targeting the ongoing unemployment crisis, the party has pledged to fill all vacant government posts within one year and establish AI Skill Development Centers across the state.

For the agrarian sector, the Congress has promised ₹15,000 annually to marginal farmers and 200 units of free electricity. In terms of healthcare, the party announced a universal health cover of ₹10 lakh per family. Kharge emphasized that Bengal needs a governance model free from corruption and polarization, urging voters to look beyond the TMC and BJP. The inclusion of free bus travel for women further underlines the party’s focus on social security in this high-stakes election.