From loan waivers to foreign trips: Decoding Karnataka's manifestos

Interestingly, according to BJP's manifesto, its program called "CM's Fellowship for Agriculture" will send 1,000 farmers to countries like Israel and China to study best agricultural practices.

Further, Rs. 5,000 crore to "Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund" as "safety net" to farmers has been promised.

In addition, Rs. 3,000 crore has been promised to "Kamadhenu Fund" for animal husbandry and dairy development.

On the other hand, Congress manifesto talks about doubling farmers income and constituting a "Statutory Farmers Income Commission" to ensure basic livelihood to agri-laborers, farmers and agricultural households.

Congress will also create a "Agricultural Corridor for Karnataka" that focuses on organic farming, reducing production cost, state-of-the-art food processing technology, etc.

Rice and cotton research centres have also been promised along with "Millets Abhivrudhi Mandali."

Though, both the parties claim to fight the election on development agenda, the manifestos prove otherwise, through unending freebies.

Free smartphones to college students have been promised by Congress, while BJP proposed the same for women in BPL families.

Congress has promised free laptops to students (classes 10-12), similarly BJP promised them for students entering colleges.

Both the parties have promised free sanitary napkins to BPL women.

Both BJP and Congress have promised gold for weddings of poor.

While Congress assured 3 gm gold "thaali" for all girls (BPL), BJP promised 3 gm gold + Rs. 25,000 for weddings in BPL families.

Notably, Congress alleged that the BJP has copied its manifesto and its President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "If you've read the Congress Manifesto, don't waste your time on this one."