By PC Bureau
Ranchi
Just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Congress for fostering a culture of freebies and making unsustainable promises to attract voters, the BJP unveiled its manifesto for the Jharkhand Assembly elections, featuring a host of enticing offerings. This move quickly drew fire from the opposition, which accused the BJP of hypocrisy.
As the political landscape heats up in Jharkhand, the BJP’s manifesto has ignited a fierce debate over the ethics of election promises and the implications for governance in the state.
Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched the BJP`s election manifesto for Jharkhand, titled the Sankalp Patra, and announced the party’s commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in the state while respecting the identity and heritage of the tribal communities. Shah also vowed to tackle issues of infiltration and return tribal lands occupied by encroachers from Bangladesh.
To address the issue of youth unemployment, Shah highlighted the party’s commitment to creating 500,000 employment opportunities for Jharkhand`s youth, including both government and self-employment roles. The manifesto promises 287,000 new government positions, along with 500,000 self-employment opportunities. Shah further assured that the recruitment process would begin in the first cabinet meeting if BJP forms the government, with an aim to fill 150,000 positions by November 2025. A monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 would also be provided to young job-seekers for two years to support their career development.
The BJP also promised to tackle the issue of “paper leak mafia” with harsh measures, vowing to take strict action to eliminate corruption from the recruitment process and ensure transparency in hiring for government positions.
Additionally, under the Laxmi Johar Yojana, BJP pledged to provide gas cylinders at Rs 500, with two free cylinders each year for 21 lakh families. The manifesto also committed to providing every household with its own concrete home and a tap water connection.
Promises in the Sankalp Patra
- Uniform Civil Code (UCC): Implementation in Jharkhand with assurances that tribal communities will be excluded from its scope.
- Youth Employment:
- Creation of 500,000 job opportunities for youth.
- 287,000 new government positions to be made available.
- 150,000 positions targeted to be filled by November 2025.
- Monthly stipend of Rs 2,000 for young job-seekers for two years.
- Combating Corruption:
- Strict measures against the “paper leak mafia” to ensure transparency in recruitment processes.
- Women Empowerment:
- Introduction of the Gogo Didi Scheme, providing Rs 2,100 monthly to women.
- Provision of free LPG cylinders during Diwali and Rakshabandhan, with additional cylinders at Rs 500.
- Housing and Utilities:
- Commitment to provide every household with a concrete home and a tap water connection.
Calling the BJP’s manifesto for Jharkhand “Jhumla Patra,” the opposition leaders on Sunday said that the people of the state will not trust the party’s manifesto as when the BJP was in power neither Jharkhand nor Ranchi developed during their regime.
JMM candidate from Ranchi, Mahua Maji said that the central government has not yet given the coal royalty to the state government.
“Union Home Minister doesn’t know what he says, if he speaking as Union Home Minister, then it is wrong but if you are speaking as a BJP leader then it is fine because it is your habit to lie. Why are you saying tribals won’t be included in UCC? You just want to mislead people during election time,” Thakur said.
Elections for 81 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly will be conducted in two phases on November 13 and November 20, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23.
In the previous assembly election, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 and Congress won 16 seats.
