Through its poll promises, BJP aims to make use of the perceived anti-incumbency against the Gehlot government and offer a solution to checking crimes against women.
JAIPUR/NEW DELHI
Released just 10 days before election for 200 Assembly constituencies in Rajasthan, the BJP’s manifesto carries promises aimed at attracting women and young voters, apart from assuring voters of taking steps to expose alleged corruption under the Congress rule.
Through its poll promises, the saffron party aims to make use of the perceived anti-incumbency against the Ashok Gehlot government and offer a solution to checking crimes against women–an issue over which the BJP has regularly targeted the Congress government during the campaign.
The party has also promised to form a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate paper leak cases under the Gehlot government. The manifesto named “Aapano Agranee Rajasthan Sankalp Patr 2023” seeks to match some of the top welfare schemes offered by the Congress in its manifesto. One such offering is a savings bond of Rs 2 lakh on the birth of every girl child under the Lado Protsahan Yojana. The bond will mature over time, providing Rs 26,000 in Class 6, Rs 18,000 in Class 9, Rs 10,000 in Class 10, Rs 12,000 in Class 11, Rs 14,000 in Class 12, Rs 50,000 in the first and last year of vocational courses, and a lump sum of Rs 1 lakh at the age of 21.
In another scheme for poor students, the BJP has promised annual assistance of Rs 1,200 to purchase school bags, books, and uniforms through DBT. Apart from promising a white paper on corruption cases of the Congress government and strict action, the BJP assured 24×7 electricity in residential areas, expansion of Jaipur Metro, transparent transfer policy, free ration to poor families under PM Garib Kalyan Yojna for five years, increase in old age pension and pension of Rs 1,500 per month for the disabled.
Promising a number of schemes for girls and women, the BJP said a “mahila thana’ will be set up in every district along with a “mahila desk” in every police station besides an anti-romeo squad in every city. The manifesto also talked about improving health infrastructure by investing Rs 40,000 crore.
The manifesto was released by BJP national president J.P. Nadda, along with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Rajasthan BJP President C.P. Joshi, Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Vasundhara Raje, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Satish Poonia, and others.
Nadda said, “The Congress became known for five things in five years. These are corruption, the disrespect of women, and neglected farmers. This is the state where the rate of electricity is highest and petrol and diesel have the highest VAT. The number of paper leaks that happened here have broken records.”
Meghwal, convener of the manifesto committee, said suggestions from individuals across all 200 constituencies in digital and physical mode were taken. The final manifesto was prepared following discussions with various groups and professionals. Nadda said a compensation policy for farmers whose land was auctioned will be brought and noted that land of 19,400 farmers was auctioned.
For farmers, the party plans to increase the financial assistance to Rs 12,000 per year. The BJP also said in the manifesto that it is committed to make Rajasthan a 350-billion dollar economy and set up the Rajasthan Economic Revival Task Force. “We will make Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Bharatpur, Jodhpur and Bikaner smart cities in collaboration with the central government,” the manifesto said.
The Congress in its manifesto, released last month, promised an annual honorarium of Rs 10,000 to the women heads of families under its “Grah Laxmi Guarantee”. Chief Minister Gehlot also promised cooking gas cylinders for Rs 500 to 1.05 crore families if re-elected in Rajasthan. After the voting for picking a new Rajasthan Assembly on 25 November, the results will be declared on 3 December.