At a time when the revdi versus welfare debate was raging, the Congress decided to rechristen its welfarist promises and call them ‘guarantees’. The Grand Old Party went on to win the election in Karnataka on that steam. Six months down the line, the question everyone’s asking is: how are they faring? For, on their perceived success or otherwise depends the Congress’s appeal in the four big states going to elections this winter—Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and neighbouring Telangana.