In a bid to counter the subsidy-driven governance model of the Arvind Kejriwal government, the BJP has taken the populist route in its manifesto for the Assembly elections, which was unveiled on Friday.
The BJP has offered a slew of freebies to Delhiites, including wheat flour at Rs 2 per kilogram for poor families, free electric scooty for college-going girls from impoverished background, free cycle for Class 9 girls from poor families, a wedding gift of Rs 51,000 for daughters of poor widows and depositing money in the name of girl child born in poor families, with pay-out of Rs 2 lakh when the girl turns 21.
Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, in response to questions on the existing subsidies on electricity and water, declared that none of the existing benefits will be discontinued.
"The schemes on electricity and water are part of a continuous process. They will continue. We will not stop any of the existing schemes," he said.
The subsidies on electricity and water which the AAP government has been providing are a major talking point in the state elections. And the AAP has tried to corner the BJP on this issue, latching on the conflicting statements that have emanated from the leaders of the saffron party.
The Sankalp Patra, which was released by Union minister Nitin Gadkari at the state BJP office, talks about giving topmost priority to granting ownership rights in the unauthorised colonies, and the setting up of a Colony Development Board for such settlements. It also promises giving ownership rights in resettlement colonies.
Seeking to assuage the concerns of the traders, the party promises to turn around ten lakh shops and offices from leasehold to freehold properties in one year and to bring legal changes to end sealing of commercial properties.
Hitting out at the AAP government, the manifesto pledges to implement central schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, PM Awaas Yojana and Kisan Samman Nidhi in the national capital. These schemes are currently not being implemented by the Kejriwal government.
The party has promised creation of ten lakh jobs in Delhi in the next five years.
With regard to the issue of cleaning river Yamuna, the party has pledged setting up of Delhi Yamuna Vikas Board and creation of Yamuna River Front. It has also promised to start 'Yamuna Arti'.
It has also promised to start a talent hunt for youth and to provide economic assistance to those selected in pursuing various creative arts.
"Delhi's future cannot be built by distributing a few freebies. It can be done only through a vision comprising concrete projects," Gadkari said referring to the subsidy-driven populist schemes of the AAP government.
