Today both BJP & Samajwadi Party released their election manifestos for the UP assembly polls. Tuesday was the final day of campaigning for the first of the seven-phase Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, which will commence from Friday.
Home Minister Amit Shah released BJP’s manifesto titled- the ‘Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra’ – in presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. It comprises a long list of ‘freebies’ for voters, containing the promise of free electricity (for irrigation) for farmers and employment or self-employment opportunities to at least one member of each family. The manifesto also vows two free LPG cylinders (one each on Holi and Diwali), free public transport travel for women over 60, and free two-wheelers for female college students.
In a controversial indication of the ordinance approved by the Yogi Adityanath government in November, Mr Shah announced, those found guilty of ‘love jihad’ would be jailed for 10 years and fined Rs 1 lakh.
However, the Samajwadi Party also released its manifesto for the elections and, like its opponent BJP, the emphasis was only on ‘freebies’ for farmers and promises of jobs. The manifesto was declared hours after the BJP released its version. Launched in Lucknow by party leader Akhilesh Yadav, the big commitments comprise one crore jobs in the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector and a further 22 lakh in the IT sector.
Mr Yadav also guaranteed to fill all openings in the UP government’s Education Department and ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in all government jobs. Considerably, the party has said it will make education free (up to the post-graduate level) for girls.
The Samajwadi Party has also proposed to make electricity (for irrigation) free for farmers and that they would be independent of debt by 2025. I n addition, farmers with land holdings below two acres will receive free fertilisers – two sacks of DAP, or Di-ammonium Phosphate, and five sacks of urea. All BPL families will receive two free LPG cylinders per year. Auto-rickshaw drivers and two-wheeler owners will receive three and one litres of petrol free per month.
However, the BJP’s event Amit Shah took a jab at Akhilesh Yadav, saying: “A few days ago Akhilesh Yadav waved our 2017 sankalp patra (manifesto) and asked what we did… I can say with pride that 92 per cent of our 212 pledges have been fulfilled…”
Mr Yadav knockback at his event, saying: “They have not done anything. You take their earlier manifesto and see how much they fulfilled. They should have observed two minutes’ silences in mourning… BJP only makes imaginary claims. Our promises come with solid prep and data,” he explained.
UP will elect a new government over a seven-phase election. Election results will be announced on March 10.
