From commercial production of cow urine to interest-free loans for women, the Congress and BJP have made several promises to voters in their election manifestos in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. A day after the Congress came up with its Chhattisgarh manifesto or Jan Ghoshana Patra, the BJP released its Sankalp Patra for the state on Saturday.
Farmers continue to be the major vote bank in Chhattisgarh, known for its single crop – paddy considering the sops promised by both parties. BJP president Amit Shah released his party’s list of promises in Raipur on Saturday.
Releasing the poll manifesto, Chief Minister Raman Singh announced interest-free loans of up to Rs 2 lakh for women to set up business. The Congress too is making all efforts to address the distressed lot of tillers offering them ‘loan waiver’ within 10 days of coming to power. Such a promise was given by the Congress-led alliance in Karnataka a few months ago.
The Congress has relied heavily on the Swaminathan Committee’s recommendations made during their rule and promised to introduce pension for farmers above 60 years of age. They also promised MSP for rice at Rs 2,500 per quintal and maize at Rs 1,700 per quintal. The Congress has also promised a complete ban on outsourcing government jobs, something the BJP is silent about.
Taking a leaf out of the existing scheme of the BJP government, the Congress offered 35 kg rice at Re 1 to the poor in Chhattisgarh. The BJP has also spoken a lot about farmers’ welfare. The major difference between the two parties is that the BJP has stressed on boosting its ongoing schemes – subsidised rice scheme, expanding land acreage under irrigation, while the Congress has offered pension to farmers, four times price compensation for agriculture land acquired by government for development.
“We will strictly enforce the provisions of the Act to help farmers,” Gandhi said, after releasing the 36-point manifesto.
Both parties have consciously avoided using “political manifesto” to the promises they have held out for voters and have made it ‘people-centric’.
Chhattisgarh goes to polls on November 12 and 20. Interestingly, both the parties seem to have given less importance on tackling the Naxal menace in the state. While the BJP mentions it at point number 7 in its manifesto, the Congress has it at as the 22nd point in its 36-point agenda. It may be mentioned here that there were three major attacks in the Bastar region recently.
The BJP has introduced an MSP for the minor forest produce. The MSP has largely been restricted to farm produce in most of the states in the country. They have also included pulses in the new MSP scheme to ease the burden of farmers across 27 districts. The Congress has also said it would give MSP to more than 75 minor forest produce and special rate of Rs 4000 per bag for tendu leaves, made for bidi. A lot of tribals in Chhattisgarh collect tendu leaves.
The Congress manifesto also promises to ban liquor in the state. This has bewildered political analysts. Many feel such a promise would be difficult to implement. “Drinking mahua has been part of tribal culture. How can they stop it?” asked Ravi Bhoi, a senior journalist.
Taking note of the intrusion of wild elephants from Odisha, the Congress has promised to create “elephant reserves “ to save farmers’ standing crops from being damaged.
Both the manifestos, out just two days before the first phase of polling, address farmers, women folks, students (free uniforms and books by BJP) and promise pucca houses to the urban poor. The BJP has held out a promise to make the state a leader in organic farming.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Amit Shah, Raman Singh in Raipur")
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}