In a blistering takedown on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t hold back, calling out the Congress party for their “luxury of empty promises.” This came after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge advised state leaders to be mindful of their promises and make only “fiscally achievable” pledges. Apparently, someone finally realized that a promise is worth nothing if it’s never meant to be kept.
The Congress Party is realising the hard way that making unreal promises is easy but implementing them properly is tough or impossible. Campaign after campaign they promise things to the people, which they also know they will never be able to deliver. Now, they stand badly…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2024
Check any state where the Congress has Governments today – Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana- the developmental trajectory and fiscal health is turning from bad to worse. Their so-called Guarantees lie unfulfilled, which is a terrible deceit upon the people of these…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 1, 2024
On Twitter, PM Modi quipped, “The Congress Party is realising the hard way that making unreal promises is easy but implementing them properly is tough or impossible.” A sentiment many voters might agree with, considering Congress’s track record of “fairy tale” guarantees that vanish like mist after elections. Modi noted, “Now, they stand badly exposed in front of the people!”—an observation as scathing as it is obvious to anyone who has witnessed Congress’s recent “promise-but-don’t-deliver” politics.
Congress States: Where Promises Go to Die Modi
The prime minister didn’t stop there. He went on to list Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana as prime examples of Congress’s governing style: say a lot, do very little. With deteriorating financial health and promises that fade faster than an afternoon shadow, Modi made it clear that Congress-led states are struggling to keep up with even the basics of development.
In his own words, Congress’s “so-called guarantees remain unfulfilled, which is a serious betrayal of the people in these states.” In these states, Modi pointed out, the real cost of these broken promises is borne by the poor, youth, farmers, and women. They not only miss out on the benefits Congress “guaranteed” but also watch as existing programs get sidetracked or downsized—talk about a double whammy!
Kharge: “Let’s Make Promises We Might Actually Deliver?”
Meanwhile, over in Congress HQ, Mallikarjun Kharge took a rare step toward realism. After Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar suggested they might reconsider the “Shakti” guarantee—a free bus ride scheme for women—Kharge piped up with a gentle reminder: “You made certain guarantees… Now, you’ve mentioned you might cancel one of them.” Translation: “Guys, do we actually read what we’re promising?”
Kharge’s comments were an eye-opener. For the party that coined “minimum governance, maximum promises,” this might be Congress’s most revolutionary idea yet: to make commitments that could actually survive a single budget cycle.
Beware of the “Congress Culture” of Hollow Promises Modi
The prime minister had a final word of advice to voters, urging them to stay wary of Congress’s “culture of false promises.” Referring to the recent Haryana elections, where voters chose action over talk, Modi remarked, “There is an increasing awareness across India that voting for Congress means supporting non-governance, poor economic policies, and unmatched corruption. The people of India desire development and progress, not the repeated #FakePromisesOfCongress!”
It’s not hard to see Modi’s point. Voting for Congress, as Modi suggests, might be like shopping for high-end fashion: looks great in the catalog, but try wearing it, and you realize it’s all style, no substance.
A Shift in Voter Expectations: No More “Promise Palaces” Modi
India’s electorate is catching on. If Congress wants to stay relevant, they’ll need to swap out their “promise palaces” for something with actual structural integrity. And while Kharge’s fiscal reality check is a start, it might take a bit more than that to win back a public tired of “guarantees” that seem to go up in smoke once the votes are counted.
For now, Modi leaves Congress with two options: make promises they intend to keep or keep promising what they can’t deliver—and watch as voters turn to leaders who walk the talk.