Maharashtra polls 2024: Amit Shah releases BJP poll manifesto, attacks Uddhav Thackeray for allying with Congress, NCP (SP)
Amit Shah then claimed that the Congress has plans to give reservation benefits to Muslims by curtailing SC, ST, and OBC quotas.
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At the manifesto-release event, Shah attacked Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray, questioning his alliance with the ‘ideologically different’ Congress and NCP (SP). (Express photo by Deepak Joshi)Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ (election manifesto) for the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024 in Mumbai on Sunday.
Releasing the 25-point manifesto, Shah announced that if the party is voted back to power, the monthly allowance under the Ladki Bahin Yojana and the senior citizen pension scheme would be increased to Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,500.
In a bid to promote industrialisation, the BJP has promised zero-interest loans up to Rs 15 lakh and vowed to generate 25 lakh jobs over the next five years. Under the Akshay Anna Yojana, the poor will be given free food items every month, the party highlighted.
The crop loan waiver and other farmer-friendly policies also feature prominently in the poll manifesto in an apparent attempt to regain the BJP’s appeal in the rural belt following the Lok Sabha debacle wherein it won only nine seats across the state.
At the manifesto-release event, Shah attacked Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray, questioning his alliance with the ‘ideologically different’ Congress and NCP (SP).
“With whom Uddhav Thackeray wants to have an alliance is up to him. I just want to ask Uddhav Thackeray, are you going to request Rahul Gandhi to speak a few good words about Veer Savarkar? Can you ask Congress to speak well about Bal Thackeray?
“Today, Uddhav Thackeray is in alliance with those parties that staunchly opposed the abrogation of Article 370, Ram temple in Ayodhya, and legislation on Waqf Board,” Shah said.
Shah then claimed that the Congress has plans to give reservation benefits to Muslims by curtailing SC, ST, and OBC quotas.
“Today, I read that a delegation of Muslim clerics approached state Congress chief Nana Patole who has given a nod to 10 per cent reservation for Muslims.
“Isn’t this a violation of the Indian Constitution which disallows reservation based on religion,” Shah asked.
Raising concerns over the Waqf board, Shah alleged that in Congress-ruled Karnataka, the Waqf Board is usurping land belonging to farmers. “If the Maha Vikas Aghadi is voted to power, land owned by farmers and people’s properties will be acquired forcibly by the Waqf Board,” Shah said.
Dismissing the possibility of new political alignments post the elections, the Union home minister said the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena, and the NCP will be voted back to power.
Despite the alliance, the BJP has published a separate manifesto. Ajit Pawar-led NCP also released its own manifesto, while the Shiv Sena is yet to come out with its manifesto.
The 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will go to the polls on November 20, with the counting slated to be held on November 23.
Key promises:
1) Monthly allowance under Ladki Bahin Yojana to be raised to Rs 2,100 from Rs 1,500
2) Loan waiver for farmers along with Bhavantar Yojana
3) Food and shelter for the poor
4) Senior citizen pension to be raised to Rs 2,100/month
5) Regulation for steady prices of essential commodities
6) Creation of 25 lakh new jobs
7) Skill census to bridge gap between demand and supply
8) Announcement of ‘Vision 2029’ within 100 days of government formation
9) SC/ ST/ OBC industrial promotion scheme to offer zero-interest loans up to Rs 15 lakh
10) Maharashtra to become the global hub for Fintech, Technology and AI hub
11) Access roads to be constructed for 45,000 villages
12) Making Maharashtra become a trillion-dollar economy by 2028
13) Legislating an anti-conversion law
14) Free ration under Akshay Anna Yojana for low-income category
15) Health card for youths (18 to 35 yrs) for fitness and deaddiction
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