The Congress party appealed to its main constituency of poor voters in an election manifesto unveiled on Wednesday that promises new jobs and more funding for education and health care.
In reverting to its traditional support base, Congress vowed to create 10 crore new jobs, set up new universities and take immediate steps to contain inflation. Party leaders also promised more funds for education, health care and agriculture if the party was voted back into power.
India's 81.4 crore eligible voters head to the polls starting April 7.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government had reaped the benefits of 9 per cent growth during its first term in office until 2009. But the economy was hit by the 2008 global crisis and growth plunged to around 4.5 per cent, which added to the government's woes.
Despite the slow growth figures, Dr Singh said that over the past decade his government had succeeded in pulling more than 14 crore people out of poverty.
"The rate of poverty decline has tripled as compared to the preceding decade," Singh told reporters.
The party also announced a raft of new welfare measures including a pension scheme and new housing plans for the underprivileged.
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