In an unexpected twist in Uttar Pradesh's political drama, the INDIA bloc clinched a surprising victory in the Lok Sabha elections. This turn of events has led to an unusual sight in Lucknow: scores of Muslim women have been seen queueing outside a Congress office. Their demand? The fulfillment of a promise—specifically, the 'guarantee cards' that were widely distributed by Congress before the polls. These cards assured the female head of every impoverished family a yearly support of Rs 1 lakh.

The scenes captured outside the Congress headquarters in Lucknow were telling. Under the harsh sun, a long line of women waited patiently. Their presence highlighted a mix of hope and urgency. Some of these women were there to request their 'guarantee cards', eager to see the promise materialize into reality. Others, already in possession of these cards, were submitting forms to initiate the transfer of the promised funds into their bank accounts. A few of them shared that upon providing their personal details, they were handed receipts by the Congress office—a small token of bureaucracy that marked their claims in the seemingly endless wait for financial relief.

The Congress party, in a bid to woo voters, launched an ambitious campaign called the ‘Ghar Ghar Guarantee’ program. This extensive initiative aimed to touch the lives of nearly 80 million households across India by offering them 25 distinct guarantees. Central to this promise was the Mahalakshmi scheme, an audacious pledge to deposit Rs 8,500 every month directly into the bank accounts of female heads of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. This particular scheme mirrors the efforts seen in Karnataka under the Congress-led Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which modestly offers Rs 2,000 to the women heading impoverished families.

The sheer scale of these promises sparked a wave of anticipation. In Bengaluru, this expectation was palpable as numerous women, buoyed by hope and the promise of financial support, hastened to the General Post Office to open bank accounts. They were motivated by the prospect of receiving Rs 8,500 monthly should the INDIA bloc seize control at the Centre.

However, despite the enthusiasm generated by these guarantees and the subsequent victory of the INDIA bloc, capturing 234 seats and defying the exit polls, the overall electoral battle swayed in favor of the NDA. The BJP-led NDA, with a robust tally of 292 seats, comfortably crossed the majority threshold of 272 seats needed to form the next government.

The contrast between the promises made and the political outcome casts a long shadow over the credibility of such electoral guarantees. As the dust settles post-elections, the landscape is littered with promises that, while they sparked hopes, now seem like distant dreams to the very electorate that once believed in their imminent fulfillment. The narrative of Rahul Gandhi’s campaign, filled with ambitious guarantees, now faces scrutiny under the harsh light of political reality, leaving voters to ponder the tangible benefits of such grand promises.

Thanks to Rumor Mill, 12k Accounts Opened at GPO

Bengaluru has witnessed a remarkable surge at the city’s General Post Office (GPO), where in the last 10 days alone, an astounding 12,000 savings bank accounts have been opened. This flurry of activity was spurred by the hope of receiving Rs 8,500 monthly, as vaguely promised by certain political campaigns following the June 4 Lok Sabha poll results.

The scene at the GPO was one of chaos and hope intertwined. On May 28, The Times of India highlighted the event under the headline ‘Women make beeline for GPO over cash-dole rumours’. The image was striking: thousands of women amassed at the GPO, each eager to open an India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) account. Fuelled by the belief that Rs 8,000 would soon be credited to their new accounts, the crowd’s optimism was palpable.

However, this mass gathering turned into a complex challenge for the Postal Department staff. Amidst the growing crowd, postal officials found themselves in a difficult position as they attempted to manage expectations and dispel rumors. They tirelessly explained to the eager women that the alleged cash offer scheme was not genuine, and that no such official scheme was in place. The supposed deadline looming over this non-existent scheme only added to the urgency and confusion among the crowd.

Officials at the General Post Office (GPO) in Bengaluru have been compelled to deploy police forces to manage the escalating crowds, particularly after installing banners that explicitly state the cash dole-out scheme, heavily rumored among the public, was entirely unfounded.

“What started in the beginning of May wherein about a 100 people came in everyday, has now escalated to over 3,000 women a day making it extremely hard to manage the crowd and is overbearing on the manpower here,” said Madhesh, the building in charge. This massive influx of hopeful account openers has led to an administrative nightmare, with the facility struggling to cope with the sheer volume of individuals.

In response to the rampant rumors, the daily count of new accounts being opened has soared. Over 1,500 accounts have been opened daily since last week, despite the continuous presence of police and ongoing public announcements to dispel the misleading information.

Compounding the situation, video clips have circulated on social media platforms showing long lines of women at the GPO. In these videos, hopeful voices can be heard saying, “We’ve been told Rs 8,500 will be deposited ‘takatak takatak’ in our accounts,” a reflection of the rapid-fire expectations set by misleading political promises.

Additionally, over the past 10 days, an average of 1,000 to 1,200 accounts have been opened per day, with some individuals traveling from adjoining districts. Influenced by word-of-mouth from relatives in Bengaluru who believed in the promises, these women have flocked to the GPO, hoping to secure their financial futures based on the hollow promises. This frenzy reached its peak in the last two days, with the account openings at the GPO breaching the 1,500 daily mark and hitting a record 1,638 new accounts on Friday alone.

Manjesh HM, the chief postmaster at the GPO, reported to STOI, “Over the past 10 days, close to 12,000 accounts have been opened at the GPO under the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) scheme.”

Despite clear communications from the GPO, misconceptions persist. The GPO has placed banners stating that the Postal Department will not deposit any amount into the IPPB accounts. These accounts are intended for various transactions, including payments to authorities and receiving funds through Direct Beneficiary Transfer (DBT), the banner explained.

Yet, the rush at the GPO is fueled by rumors and informal information channels. Many women mentioned that they learned about the deposit scheme from neighbors, WhatsApp groups, and local news sources. This word-of-mouth phenomenon has not only attracted locals but also their friends and relatives from neighboring districts and the outskirts of the city, all of whom are eager to open an IPPB account.

Adding to the workforce helping with this influx, postmen, who are typically tasked with delivering mail, are now also assisting in opening IPPB accounts after completing their delivery rounds.

Amidst this chaotic scene, one woman from Lakkasandra expressed her motivation: “I heard that it is beneficial, as they credit money into your account every month which helps homemakers like me.” This sentiment echoes the hope and desperation driving the crowd, each clinging to the promise of a monthly cash injection into their lives, despite official clarifications denying such benefits.

To manage the crowd efficiently, tokens are distributed to those waiting, a system that demands patience as they endure the scorching temperatures. For many, the process is not completed in a single day, compelling them to return as early as 10 am the next morning to continue their efforts.

Recognizing the urgency and volume of the crowd, the postal department has strategically increased its staffing levels to improve service. "While there were only 8 to 10 people attending to the crowd, from Thursday the number of staffers was increased to 15 personnel on a rotation basis," a GPO official stated. This boost in manpower is part of a broader attempt to streamline the process and accommodate the burgeoning demand.

The surge in activity has placed a significant burden on the postal department's servers, slowing down the registration of accounts and the linking of Aadhaar accounts. A GPO employee elaborated on the challenges faced: “It would require at least 10-15 minutes to open each account. Nevertheless, we’ve been working overtime to ensure accounts are opened, considering several women have been standing in queue to open accounts since 4am.”

Amidst these operational hurdles, police and home guards play a crucial role in crowd control, ensuring that the process remains orderly and safe. Additionally, GPO officials have implemented a token system linked to the Aadhaar numbers of each beneficiary to prevent any potential misuse of the situation by opportunists.

Despite official efforts to clarify and manage expectations, the rumor mill continues to operate at full capacity, extending its influence to neighboring districts. Women from places like Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur, Ramanagara, and Kolar, having caught wind of the supposed financial benefits, have joined the throngs at the GPO, hoping to secure what they believe to be a guaranteed monetary deposit into their accounts. This widespread response highlights the profound impact of political promises on the lives of everyday citizens, leaving them chasing shadows of commitments that may never materialize.