Poll manifesto of JD(U) to be out on April 14

PATNA: The JD(U) will release its election manifesto, christened ‘Nishchay Patra’, on April 14, three days after conclusion of the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in the state.

JD(U) sources said the manifesto would tow a different line from BJP on many issues like Article 370, Article 35 A and Ram Temple. The JD(U) is also likely to oppose Citizenship Amendment Bill in its manifesto.

JD(U) secretary general K C Tyagi told TOI on Thursday that the manifesto has been made keeping in mind welfare of farmers, poor, minority, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and women. Tyagi said his party was against abrogation of Article 370, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and Article 35 A which allows state legislature to define permanent residents of Jammu and Kashmir. In its election manifesto, the BJP has promised to repeal Article 370 and Article 35A.

“We had made our stand clear on these issues earlier too and our position remains the same,” Tyagi said.

“Our mentor and socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan had raised these issues with the then Jammu and Kashmir CM Sheikh Abdullah. Being JP’s follower, we will go by his stand”, Tyagi added.

He said members of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and North-East Students’ Organisation (NESO) met him on Wednesday and requested that the JD(U) should oppose the Citizenship Amendment Bill. “I have conveyed this message to our party president and the issue will be included in our manifesto,” Tyagi said.

Asked about JD(U)’s stand on Ram Temple at Ayodhya, Tyagi said the issue should be resolved within the framework of the Constitution and through discussions among the stakeholders. Tyagi also differed from the BJP on the issue of uniform civil code.

On the JD(U)’s reservation against certain promises made by the BJP in its election manifesto, Tyagi said, “Since we are different political parties, it is but natural that we will differ on certain issues. All these matters will be discussed after the formation of the government at the Centre.”