CHIEF Minister Siddaramaiah said the newly sworn-in Karnataka Cabinet led by him in its maiden meet on Saturday accorded “in-principle” approval to implement the Congress party’s five guarantees and initial estimates indicate that it would cost the exchequer Rs 50,000 crore annually. The first Cabinet meeting was held immediately after Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister, and D K Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister along with eight MLAs as Ministers. Earlier in the day Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the five ‘guarantees’ promised by the party before the elections in Karnataka will be implemented within a few hours after the first Cabinet meeting.

“It’s agreed upon. We will not go back (on the promises),” the Chief Minister said, adding, the assurances would be

fulfilled notwithstanding financial implications, if any. Siddaramaiah said initial estimation of the Government is that the implementation of the poll promises would cost the exchequer Rs 50,000 crore a year.

The assurances promised before the elections would “most likely” be implemented after the next Cabinet meeting, he said addressing a press conference here. The party’s five poll guarantees are 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kilograms of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduate youth, Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti). Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the Assembly session will be convened for three days from May 22.