Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday, 25 May 2026, marked three years of the Congress government in Karnataka, dedicating the occasion to the people of the state and highlighting the delivery of the party's five pre-poll guarantee schemes, with particular emphasis on the Shakti Yojane free bus travel programme for women.

Context

Posting in Kannada on X under the hashtags #3YearsOfNavaKarnataka and #NavaKarnataka, Siddaramaiah wrote: 'On this meaningful occasion of completing three years in power with the blessings of the people of the state, we dedicate the credit for all the achievements of our government to every Kannadiga.' He added that the government takes pride in having 'walked the talk' — honouring every promise made to voters before the elections.

The Congress party swept the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections in May 2023, campaigning heavily on a package of five welfare guarantees. Siddaramaiah, a veteran Congress leader, was sworn in as Chief Minister following that victory.

Policy Backdrop

The five guarantee schemes — which include free electricity, subsidised rice, free bus travel for women, and youth unemployment support — were central to the Congress manifesto for the 2023 Karnataka elections. The Shakti Yojane was formally launched after the government took office, extending free travel across state-run bus services to women for purposes including employment, education, and personal travel.

According to figures cited by Siddaramaiah in his post, 726 crore free tickets have been distributed under the Shakti scheme to date, with the government spending ₹18,943 crore in grants for the programme. The government has framed the scheme as having 'truly empowered the transport system of the land of Shakti,' a phrase that plays on the scheme's name.

Karnataka state budgets from 2023-24 onwards have carried dedicated allocations for these five guarantees, with the government releasing periodic updates on coverage and expenditure.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries of the Shakti Yojane are women commuters across Karnataka, who use state-run buses for daily travel to workplaces, schools, colleges, and other destinations. The scheme has been positioned by the government as a tool for economic inclusion, reducing the financial burden of commuting for working-class and lower-income women.

For Karnataka taxpayers, the cumulative expenditure of ₹18,943 crore on free ticketing represents a significant fiscal commitment. The broader pattern of gender-specific transport subsidies is visible across several Indian states, including Delhi, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, where similar programmes have been introduced in recent years.

What's Next

With the three-year mark now passed, attention will turn to Karnataka's state budget for 2026-27 and any independent performance audits of the five guarantee schemes. The government's ability to sustain and expand these programmes through the remaining term will be closely watched, both as a test of fiscal management and as a template for the Congress party's welfare-based electoral strategy in other states.