UP assembly elections: Samajwadi Party’s manifesto may include free electricity, monthly pension for women

LUCKNOW: Free electricity schemes coupled with Rs 1,500 monthly pension to women head of BPL families and lakhs of jobs are likely to be the highlight of the Samajwadi Party’s manifesto for 2022 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.
These issues have found resonance among party cadre across the state and beyond when the SP leadership sought their feedback on what should be included in the party manifesto for the high-stake assembly polls slated to be held early next year. Most of the party workers said such issues which directly affect the poor and the middle class must be a part of the manifesto as it will make SP standout in comparison to its political rivals.
“Free electricity scheme is likely to figure in the manifesto along with pension for women and jobs,” said a senior leader who was associated with collecting the feedback from the party workers on the issue. Sources said party leadership was holding consultations with experts to take a call on the viable extent to which the three issues can be fulfilled after the elections.
“Party workers and leaders have made such a suggestion because they have earlier seen how our national president lived up to the promise of distributing free laptops, metro rail project and Lucknow-Agra Expressway project,” said party’s chief spokesperson and secretary Rajendra Chaudhary. “They have full faith that such issues can be attended to by our party chief once he becomes the chief minister of UP for the second time after the elections,” Chaudhary added.
Most of the party leaders and workers have demanded free electricity up to 300 units per month, around Rs 1,500 pension to one crore women heads of below poverty line (BPL) families and promise of 10 lakh jobs to unemployed youths.
Many of the party workers have also suggested that the party should announce that these promises will be fulfilled in the first cabinet meeting that will be held after the SP is voted to power in the 2022 polls.