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From sanitary napkins at Re 1 to free smartphones: Highlights of BJP manifesto for Karnataka Election 2018

From farm loan waiver and other sops to farmers, freebies like laptops for students and smartphones for BPL women to a commission for cow protection, the BJP today made a plethora of promises in its manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly polls to reach out to various sections.

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From farm loan waiver and other sops to farmers, freebies like laptops for students and smartphones for BPL women to a commission for cow protection, the BJP today made a plethora of promises in its manifesto for the Karnataka Assembly polls to reach out to various sections.

As it seeks to wrest the state from the Congress, the BJP said Rs 1.5 lakh crore will be spent on irrigation projects and farm loans of up to Rs 1 lakh borrowed from nationalised and cooperative banks will be waived if it is voted to power.

The manifesto, unveiled by Karnataka BJP president and its chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, says a 'white paper' will be brought out on the state's financial health under the Congress rule after the BJP forms a government.

The manifesto said a Rs 5,000 crore 'Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund' would be launched to cushion farmers against the effects of price fluctuations.

It said farmers would be sent to countries like Israel and China every year to study best practices in agriculture.

The manifesto said Rs 25,000 and 3 gm of gold will be provided to brides of families living Below Poverty Line (BPL) at the time of marriage under the 'Vivaha Mangala' scheme.

Targeting the vast constituency of women, the party promised sanitary napkins for BPL women at Re 1 under the 'Stree Suvidha' Scheme.

It said 300 'Mukhya Mantri Annapoorna Canteens' would be opened to provide meals at affordable price. The state's Congress government already runs Indira Canteens-- a chain of fast-food joints-- in several places.

The BJP, which has made alleged corruption under the Siddaramaiah government a major electoral plank, promised to restore the efficacy of the office of Lokayukta, the anti- corruption ombudsman.

The party has often accused the Siddaramaiah government of having weakened the anti-corruption watchdog and diminished its importance by bringing it under the anti-corruption bureau. It claims the ACB is being used by the Congress government as a tool to target its opponents.

There will be a 24x7 anti-corruption helpline directly under the chief minister's office to enable people to report instances of corruption, the manifesto said.

It has also promised to enact a Karnataka Whistleblower Act to protect those exposing corruption.

The "Gau Seva Ayog", disbanded by the Congress government, will be revived, the manifesto said.

The BJP government had formed a commission for protection and conservation of cow and its progeny in 2012, but it was scrapped by the Siddaramaiah government, which entrusted the task to the Animal Welfare Board.

The manifesto said the BJP government would launch 'Gobar-dhana Yojane' to help farmers monetise cow dung.

The BJP will launch 'Mukhya Mantri Laptop Yojane' under which every student enrolling in a college will be given a laptop free of cost. Similarly, women of BPL families will get free smart phones under 'Mukhyamantri Smart Phone Yojane'.

The manifesto said the BJP government would take steps for making Bengaluru, the IT hub of the country, a world class "zero garbage" city.

Bengaluru got the unenviable moniker of "garbage city" during the last few years, with both BJP and the ruling Congress blaming each other for the civic mess.

BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje said the manifesto was a "vision document" which reflected people's aspirations and expectations.

Over three lakh common people as also experts were consulted and their views incorporated in the manifesto, she said.

Here are the highlights of the BJP manifesto for Karnataka:

  • Scheme to provide accidental insurance cover up to Rs 2 lakh for landless, agricultural labourers.
  • Crop loan waiver up to Rs 1 lakh, including all loans from nationalised banks and co-operatives
  • Farmers will receive 1.5 times the cost of production as Minimum Support Price (MSP)
  • To launch Negilayogi Yojane to provide direct income support of Rs 10,000 to 20 lakh small and marginal dry land farmers.
  • Rs 25,000 and 3 gm gold for brides of families under Vivaha Mangala scheme
  • 300 Mukhya Mantri Annapoorna canteens to provide affordable meals
  • Rs 5000 crore ‘Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund’ to provide safety net for farmers
  • Department to be monitored directly under CMO to monitor implementation of schemes
  • Pledge to develop 6 ‘K-Hubs’ as incubators and co-working spaces for start-ups at Hubballi, Bengaluru, Raichur, Mysuru, Mangaluru and Kalaburgi
  • To set up Rs 10,000 crore Stree Unnati Fund to set up women cooperative and establish Stree Unnati Stores
  • To launch Mukhyamantri Smartphone Yojna for women below BPL
  • Free sanitary napkins to BPL women and girl students, and at Rs 1 for other women under Stree Suvidha Scheme
  • Hyderabad-Karnataka Industrial Mega Corridor to be built from Hosapete to Hyderabad
  • Rs 2500 crore fund to clean and revive lakes and rivers of Bengaluru and ‘free Bengalureans from water tank mafia’
  • To form flying squads to attend to distress calls of women in Bengaluru
  • To organise a summit for Hyderabad-Karnataka region every 2 years to attract investment
  • To form special investigation cell led by a female police officer with 1000 policewomen to investigate pending crimes against women.
  • Rs 1.5 lakh crore budget to compete all irrigation projects by 2023
  • 3-phase power supply for 10 hours for farmers to operate their pump sets
  • Rs 3000 crore fund for development of animal husbandry and dairy farming infrastructure
  • Rs 1000 crore fund for expanding veterinary services
  • Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012 to be reintroduced

 

Data provided by the Chief Electoral Office in Karnataka has indicated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest all 224 seats, while the Congress will contest 222 seats. The H.D. Devegowda-led Janata Dal-Secular will contest 201 seats.

Mulbagal constituency in Kolar district will field the highest number of 39 candidates, while Challakere in Chitradurga district will field the least at four.

A comparative study between the elections being held on May 12 and the one held in 2013 makes for an interesting read.

According to the data provided, in 2013 3693 candidates filed their nominations for contesting the polls. This year, 3509 have filed their nominations. That is 183 less than 2013. In terms of withdrawals and or rejections, in 2013, 744 candidates' nominations were withdrawn or rejected, while in 2018, 854 nominations have been withdrawn or rejected. That shows that 110 more withdrawals and or rejections have taken place before the 2018 polls.

In 2018, 2436 males will be contesting the elections as compared to 2788 in 2013, a difference of 352 less. This year, 219 women are in the poll fray as opposed to 170 in 2013, a difference of 49.

In 2013, 2948 in total entered the electoral fray as compared to 2655 in 2018, a difference of283 less.

There are 800 registered candidates from unrecognised political parties contesting the polls this year, compared to 832 in 2013, a difference of 32.

In 2018, 1155 independent candidates are contesting the state polls as compared to 1223 in 2013, that is, 68 less.

With inputs from PTI

 

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