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Gujarat Elections 2017: How the manifestos of Congress and BJP match up

BJP plays safe whereas Congress goes for the jugular.

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Polling officials checking the electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Surat on Friday on the eve of the first phase of the Gujarat Assembly election
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With a day to go for the Gujarat elections, BJP released its manifesto on Friday. Its main opponent Congress had published its manifesto couple of days ago. Even a cursory glance at both the manifestos show the difference in agenda and the election plank both the parties are taking in this poll.

For BJP, it is more of a consolidation of the work it has done in the past two decades. It has shunned the temptation of making extravagant promises or holding any carrot for the agitating Patidar community. As Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said at the press conference, main goal of BJP will be to improve on the impressive 10% growth rate achieved by the state. Whereas Congress, which has been languishing in wilderness in Gujarat politics for a very long time has made some extravagant promises in its manifesto, something its voters will held themselves accountable to, if and when they get power.

Let's see how the manifesto of the two parties match up in some major issues:

Patidar quota:

Congress has promised to award reservation to Patels by creating a special category and granting them all benefits of the OBC quota. BJP despite massive pushback from the Patidars have refused to take the bait and hasn't declared any quota for Patidars. Jaitley brushed it off claiming 'constitutional impossibility' as it would breach the 50% upper limit. 

Loan waive-off

Rahul Gandhi in his election speech has promised that Congress will waive off loan of poor farmers in 10 days. The manifesto promises scrapping of amended Land Acquisition Bill and giving 16-hours of electricity to farmers. BJP manifesto on the other hand, promises to double "double farmers' income through various means, such as cheap fertilisers and seeds, better irrigation, proper Minimum Support Prices and (access to) food processing".

Women rights

BJP has promised  to increase the pension for widows at regular intervals. On the other hand, Congress has pledged  awarding ownership of LIG (Low Income Group) houses to women. For girl students, Congress manifesto pledges 100 per cent free education will be provided from primary to higher education, whereas families availing the Centre's Ujjwala gas connection will also be provided kerosene.

For lesser privileged

Congress has planned to start Indira Canteens to provide 'affordable nutritious and delicious food' for the labour class at Rs 10 per plate. Rahul Gandhi in his poll speech said that it is looking to emulate the Karnataka model in Gujarat. Incidentally state like Tamil Nadu also have similar schemes. It has also promised to set up Economically Backward Classes Commission (EBCS) for educational and economic development of "deprived people among the upper castes". 

The Congress said it will ensure "equal work equal pay" as well as the increase in minimum wages for labourers. BJP on the other hand has promised pucca houses for poor families" , affordable healthcare for poor workers from the unorganised sector. 

Healthcare:

BJP has promised that it will  open more generic medicine shops and introduce mobile clinics and laboratories, apart from making Gujarat free of vector-borne diseases. The Congress plans to introduce 'Sardar Patel Universal Healthcare Card' for healthcare at government hospitals and free medicines through 'Rajiv Gandhi Pharmacy' chains.

Job-creation and sops for unemployed

The Congress party manifesto tries to outdo the projects already existing in Gujarat. It has promised  to give allowance up to Rs 4000 per month for educated unemployed youth till they get placed. Youth who want to set up industry will be given 250-500 sq metre plots at competitive rates and provided loans up to Rs 5 lakh at 5 per cent interest," it said. The party will also set up 'Swami Vivekanand Education Foundation' to provide scholarships for students of modest means for their education from pre-primary level to PhD. The Congress also promised to slash fee burden of  self-financed courses in government and aided institutions by 80%.  The party is looking to fill all vacant government positions and cancellation of outsourcing of jobs as well as contract and fixed salary systems.

Special schemes for SC/ST, OBCs and minorities

BJP is looking to bolster the existing schemes already in place. Additionally, it has  promised to set up district-level "Tribal Welfare Boards" and an "Adivasi University". BJP manifesto also mentions new hostels for Scheduled Caste students and doubling of grant given to the Thakor and Koli Development Board.

Congress is looking to earmark development packages for areas dominated by OBCs and also establish funds for fully funding self-employment of artisans and OBC youth.

The party in its manifesto has pledged to set up a minority commission to look at their needs. It also plans to provide 'Babasaheb Ambedkar Samajik Suraksha Card' for unorganised workers.

Congress populist promises

Congress has promised to slash diesel and petrol prices by up to Rs 10 by cutting down state taxes. It is also looking to slash property tax and electricity rates by 50 per cent if elected to power. The manifesto promises to provide electricity at only Rs 2 unit for up to 200 units on household power consumption. It also assured financial assistance and pension to widows, senior citizens and the differently-abled.

For infrastructure development of urban and rural centres

BJP manifesto promises to covert villages into 'smart villages'. For urban centres, the BJP is looking to implement the Smart City projects and  construction of  It has also promised new tourism circuits, development of ports. BJP hopes to construct toilers for all rural houses in next five years. 

The Congress plans to adopt a Smart Village Policy to stop migration and make provision of ponds, playgrounds, sanitation and drinking water supply to villages. It also promised to construct 25 lakh houses in the next five years under various schemes like Indira Aawas Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Aawas Yojana and Ambedkar Aawas Yojana.

With PTI inputs 

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