Kumaraswamy’s weird poll promise, says “will give Rs 2 lakh to women marrying farmers’ sons”

New Delhi: While the campaigning for Karnataka Assembly election heats up, former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has stirred controversy by making a bizarre election promise to voters.

The Janata Dal (Secular) leader said that his party would launch a scheme, where Rs 2 lakh ‘financial assistance’ will be allotted to women who will marry sons of farmers.

Kumaraswamy made the weird poll promise at Pancharathna rally in Kollar district. He said that children of farmers were finding it difficult to find marital alliance and this scheme will facilitate their marriage.

“I received a petition that girls are not ready to get married to farmers’ sons. To encourage the marriage of farmers’ children the government should give two lakh rupees to the girls. This is one of the programs which will be introduced, to protect the self-respect of our boys,” India Today reported, quoting Kumaraswamy.

Kumaraswamy-led JD(S) is making an outreach to the farming community to win their vote & support. Recently, the JD(S) leader also announced waiving of loans of women Self-help Groups & medical aid for the poor.

JD(S)’s 2nd poll list soon

Kumaraswamy is bound to face flak for this poll promise, which many claim, is more about ‘women suppression than liberation’.

Meanwhile, the party is set to announce its 2nd list of candidates for the upcoming elections. Reports also suggest that the party office-bearer are ironing out internal differences and “focused on projecting a united image”.

Karnataka has 224 Assembly constituencies in 6 regions namely Bengaluru, Central, Coastal, Hyderabad-Karnataka, Mumbai-Karnataka and Southern Karnataka. The party has already made names of its 93 candidates. The party, assumed as a party closer to the farming community, is aiming for doubling its share in the numbers game.

Kumaraswamy has already said that his party will play pivotal role in the state as national parties, even if victorious, will require JD(S) support in government formation. Election analysts see Kumaraswamy’s party winning at least 25-35 seats in the impending elections.