MP Election: BJP’s Election Manifesto is Old Wine in New Bottle

Bhopal: Even as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh has spun the yarns of his success claiming that he has fulfilled 90 per cent of the promises made in the election manifesto in 2013, an analysis of what he has actually done in the last five years tells a different tale.

In its manifesto ‘Samridh Madhya Pradesh Drishti Patra’, the major promises that the BJP has made are proportionate bonus to small farmers, creation of 10 lakh jobs per year, scooty to meritorious girl students, delivery of government services at door steps, smart phone to Asha workers, etc.

However, there is nothing new in that. In fact, 40 per cent of the agenda are repetition of the promises made in its manifesto in 2013 and 2008 elections, according to an analysis by NewsClick on farmers, youths and women. 

The manifesto is nothing but rhetorical. In 2008, the party had come up with department-wise manifesto; in 2013, it released Jan Sankalp Patra and made sector-wise promises; and in 2018, the party has released Drishti Patra (vision document) classifying sectors with sub-heads in each sector. There is a separate manifesto for women, besides.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from the caretaker government who is seeking to retain power in the state fourth time in a row had released the manifesto on Saturday, November 17, in the presence of Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and other senior party leaders in Bhopal.

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The last three election manifestos of the party reveal that the poll promises made by the BJP are increasing with each election even as it fails to fulfill them year after year.

Farmers

In the manifesto of 2008, the BJP had mentioned 15 points for the growth of the farming sector and farmers. But the number of promises in the manifesto has shot up to 58 in 2013 and to 101 in 2018.

In the 80-page manifesto, besides the repetition of the poll promises in 2013, out of 58 promises made in that year 29 remained unfulfilled.

The promises the government has reneged on include- 15 lakh homes to the poor and landless farmers, provident fund for farm labourers, opening of 10 agro polytechnics, ambulance service 109 for animals, setting up of loan relief commission, etc.

In this year’s manifesto, the party also promises to pay Rs. 265 as bonus to every farmer who has five acres. But even its promise to waive off farm loans below Rs. 50,000 did not see the light of the day. 

Yet, the party has promised to set up Gaushalas (cow sheds) in every village, creation of special fund of Rs. 500 crore for financial help to farmers, establish MP Meteorological Corporation and to ensure 25 per cent cash payment for crop in mandis.

The Congress has promised to waive off farm loans below Rs. 2 lakh to benefit 81 lakh farmers. Bonus on major 17 crops as per Swaminathan Commission recommendations, implementation of the Land Acquisition Act 2014, loan for farmers below Rs. 1 crore for five year on lower interest rate and others.  

Women

Sensing anger among women voters following unprecedented rise in crimes against women and unemployment, the BJP has released a separate 9-page manifesto, ‘Nari Shakti Sankalp Patra’. But the number of tickets the party has given to women candidates has declined from 28 to 22.

Also Read: Madhya Pradesh Polls: Congress, BJP Show Little Faith in Women Candidates

Though the number of women candidates has declined, the number of promises made for them in the manifesto has gone up from 28 in 2013 to 50 in 2018. Yet, the party was oblivious of half of the promises just after the election.

The promises the government did not implement include the setting up of special court to tackle cases of crimes against women, jobs of observer to every woman who will complete education in agriculture in the next three years, loan to unemployed educated women on minimum interest, 24x7 ambulance service for emergency delivery, women helpline at every police station to deal with domestic violence, hostel for working women in every district and others, claimed Congress.

Congress leader Pawan Khera said, “There has been an unprecedented rise in crime against women in the state. 755 per cent hike in kidnapping cases, 46,000 rape cases took place, hike of 249 per cent in minor rape and more important 85,000 cases are pending in the courts. Besides, education and employment ratio of women is very low in the state.”

Youth

Out of 5.3 crore total voters in the state, youth constitute 35 to 40 per cent. So, announcement related to youths will play a vital role in the poll. According to the state unemployment exchange data 2017, there are 23.7 lakh educated unemployed youths in the state.

In 2008 manifesto, the BJP had made around 26 promises for the youth, in 2013 it went up to 40 while in 2018 it has risen to 70. Out of the 40 promises in the last election manifesto, 21 remained unfulfilled such as special education zone, placement cell for college students, direct recruitment to vacant government jobs, establishment of Madhya Pradesh Samundarpar Niyogan Bureau to help those youths who were going to foreign country for employment, establishment of Skill University, construction of government colleges and filling of vacant seats, restructuring fee in institutes of higher education, etc.

So, to persuade the most deceived voters, the party has promised 10 lakh jobs each year, no interview in the recruitment of class 3 and 4 employees, integrated portal for employers and job seekers, roadmap for education to all and employment to all, incentives to industries that generate over 10,000 jobs, etc.

But according to the BJP government’s previous track record, the promises seem nothing but imaginary. In the last 15 years, according to the Madhya Pradesh assembly data, the government has created only 2, 46, 612 jobs, means 17, 615 jobs a year.

The Congress, too, has a lot of promises to the youth including, Rs. 10,000 unemployment allowance, Rs. 4,000 to young professionals for five years, relaxation to companies who set up business here and give employment to youths, establishment of State Employee Commission, youth commission, shut down Vyapam and partiality in recruitment. 

The BJP’s manifesto has given a wide berth to the poor and the labourers who comprise 1.5 crore of the seven crore population in the state. Also, the party has not talked about Ram Gaman Path (the track Ram took in exile) and cow protection in the current manifesto.

Major Unfulfilled Schemes of the BJP

1. Home to 15 lakh poors, farmers and landless people
2. Benefit to 5 lakh youths through self-employment 
3. Provident Fund scheme to farm labourers
4. Medicare policy for poor and middle class family
5. Opening of 10 new agricultural polytechnics
6. Set up Commission for Middle Class
7. Roads to every village in five years
8. Mobile ambulance 109 for animals
9. Setup Social Artist Welfare Commission
10. Opening new branches of co-operative banks in villages.
11. Construction of Chief Minister Dharm Marg Yogna to connect major religious places
12. Setup State Temple Management
13. Special education zone
14. Placement cell for college students
15. Direct recruitment to vacant government jobs
16. Establishment of Madhya Pradesh Samundrapar Niyogan Bureau to help those youths who were going to foreign country for employment
17. Establish Skill University
18. Construction of government colleges and fill the vacant seats
19. Restructure of fee for higher education
20. Establishment of Sports Authority of Madhya Pradesh

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