New Delhi, Cautious that its traditional support base of middle class, traders and poor are not won over by the Congress machinations, the ruling BJP on Monday sought to woo these sections of citizenry by announcing sops for farmers and traders and also ensure that there is greater purchasing power for the middle class.
“We remain committed to the promise of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022 and more resources will be made available if necessary,” said the BJP Sankalp Patra released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Manifesto said the saffron party will provide short term new agricultural loans up to Rs 1 lakh at a zero per cent interest rate of one to five years and also that the NDA regime will launch a pension scheme for small and marginal farmers “so as to ensure social security to them on reaching 60 years of age”.
“We are committed to making an investment of Rs 25 lakh crore to improve the productivity of the farm sector,” the party pledged.
The anguish of traders and farmers and a section of upper caste in middle income group had led to BJP’s defeat in three heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh in December.
Giving a clear message to traders – the BJP manifesto said “to protect the interest of small traders, we will provide an accident insurance of Rs 10 lakh to all the traders registered under GST”.
Small traders like the small and marginal farmers will be given pension benefits after 60 years of age.For the middle class, it said the saffron party is committed to further revising the tax slabs and the tax benefits to ensure more cash and greater purchasing power in the hands of middle-income families.
“We will make all efforts to ensure that our aspirational middle class has access to education, employment opportunities and suitable urban infrastructure for a better quality life,” it said.
The BJP Manifesto especially seeking to make an impact among the farmers, traders and middle income groups comes close on the heels of Congress in its revival journey making an effort to win over the poor with its NYAY – the minimum income scheme.
In fact, the BJP-led NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was voted out of power due to undercurrent of unhappiness against the government of the day – despite its towering claim of ‘India Shining’.
In fact, the Congress slogan ‘Congress Ka Haath, Aam Aadmi ke Saath’ proved much useful and Sonia Gandhi-led UPA had stormed to power.
In the general election 2019, the BJP is seeking mandate while in power for the third time. The saffron party returned to power in 1999 after Kargil but failed to do so in 2004 when the party’s ‘India Shining’ campaign apparently did not convince people.
In 2004 elections, despite hype, the BJP lost when its 25 ministers including the likes of Jagmohan and M M Joshi lost. Over the last few months, BJP chief Amit Shah has been counselling party leaders and colleagues not to be complacent.
The saffron party poll strategists were irked the day NYAY scheme was announced by Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the ruling dispensation has time and again tried to keep the campaign debate confined within the limits of neo-nationalism especially in the context of post-Pulwama developments and fight against terror.
In the manifesto, the BJP pledged to ensure ‘safe return’ of Kashmiri Pandits and it also spoke about abrogation of the Article 370.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said – “The essence of our manifesto is to deplete poverty over next five years to single digit and than eventually to eliminate it”.
“This manifesto is one of a government which is going to continue in power. This manifesto in the season of manifestos is not prepared with the ‘Tukde Tukde’ mindset,” Mr Jaitley said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said if voted to power again, his party and the government will take up a new mission wherein development would be made ‘Jan Andolan (people’s movement)’.
Addressing BJP workers on the occasion of release of the party manifesto, he said Swacch Abhiyan has yielded success because of people’s involvement. “This is something we will work to put the country on a track wherein development also becomes Jana Andolan”.