BJP, AAP, and Congress vie for Delhi voters with welfare schemes ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), once a critic of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) freebie-driven governance model in Delhi, has now joined AAP and Congress in adopting similar strategies ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections. The trend of offering freebies, or “muft ke revari,” has become prominent in Delhi politics, with most parties leveraging it to attract voters.
BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda, while unveiling the party’s Sankalp Patra for the 2025 Delhi elections, announced key welfare initiatives. Nadda cited the success of welfare programmes in BJP-ruled states and criticised AAP for failing to deliver on its promises.
Nadda assured that all existing welfare schemes in Delhi would be retained and enhanced under BJP governance. To ensure affordable meals, the BJP plans to introduce Atal Canteens offering nutritious meals for Rs 5, particularly in slum areas. Nadda criticised AAP for failing to deliver on its 2015 promise of setting up 100 “Aam Aadmi Canteens.”
BJP’s key welfare initiatives
Mahila Samridhi Yojana
This scheme aims to provide financial assistance to all women residing in Delhi, by offering a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500. The initiative focuses on empowering women by enhancing their financial independence and enabling them to contribute more actively to household expenses.
Support for pregnant women
In order to improve maternal health and support expectant mothers, the BJP has proposed a one-time financial aid of Rs 21,000 for pregnant women in Delhi. Alongside this monetary assistance, six nutritional kits will be provided to ensure proper nourishment during pregnancy.
LPG subsidy
To alleviate the burden of rising LPG costs, the BJP plans to introduce a subsidy of Rs 500 per LPG cylinder for households in Delhi. Additionally, each family will receive one free LPG cylinder during Holi and Diwali.
Atal Canteen Yojana
This initiative focuses on addressing food security for the underprivileged population residing in JJ clusters and slum areas. The BJP plans to set up canteens offering nutritious meals at a highly subsidised price of Rs 5.
Senior Citizen Pension Scheme
The BJP has proposed a pension scheme to support the elderly population in Delhi. Senior citizens aged between 60 and 70 years will receive a monthly pension of Rs 2,500, while those above 70 years will receive Rs 3,000.
Implementation of central schemes
The BJP has pledged to implement flagship central government schemes in Delhi. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, affordable housing will be made available to the urban poor, aligning with the goal of “housing for all.” The Ayushman Bharat scheme will be implemented to provide health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per family, ensuring access to quality healthcare services.