2017 Punjab Assembly Elections - Ex-PM Manmohan Singh and party leader Capt Amrinder Singh release Congress manifesto for Punjab Monday Jan 09,2017

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi was once again found missing from action as his party launched its manifesto in Punjab. 

Former PM Manmohan Singh and the party's face in the state Captain Amrinder Singh set out its vision for the state on Monday, but the Gandhi scion as well as party president Sonia Gandhi were absent.

The Punjab elections have been billed as crucial for the Grand Old party of the country as its shrinking footprint on the political scene is largely predicted to be hinging on the outcome of the polls in the five states going to polls. 

Though the party has finally been given a fair chance in the Punjab polls, the absence of the top two figures disappointed many. 

Congress vice president Rahul left the country in December last year, and party chief Sonia Gandhi too was missing at the release of the Punjab manifesto.

Ex-PM Singh and former Punjab chief minister, famously called only 'captain' by the part as well as his opponents, released the manifesto. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MANIFESTO 

• Free house of five maria land to homeless families earning less than Rs 5 lack annually 
• Rs 2,500 aid to unemployed youth per month until a job is provided
• Sero-tolerance policy on smugglers, peddlers, police, politicians, babus or public indulging in drug trafficking
• Rs 1,000 crore enhancement of industrial development fund and special budgetary allocation for industrial development 
• One lack taxis and other vehicles per year to be provided to unemployed youth at subsidised rates
• 33 per cent seats in government-run colleges with free education for poor, meritorious, SC and OBC students