Lok Sabha elections: Key takeaways from manifestos of major parties in Maharashtra

After voting was conducted in five of its constituencies on April 19, Maharashtra will also vote in parts in the next four phases of the Lok Sabha polls between April 26 and May 20. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

This is the first election in Maharashtra following the split in the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party. Let’s take a look at the key takeaways of the manifestos of top political parties:

NCP (SP)

The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar)’s manifesto favours a caste census and promises a separate commission for farmers’ welfare, right to apprenticeship, and 50 per cent reservation for women in jobs.

As per the manifesto, titled “Shapatnama”, the NCP (SP) will review and propose changes to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the National Register for Citizens (NRC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other laws “conflicting” with constitutional principles. The Sharad Pawar-led party said it supports full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and rejects the idea of ‘One nation, one election’.

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The manifesto also favours scrapping of the Agnipath scheme, safety audit for women and strengthening cyber laws related to them. It mentioned that the party advocates empowering state and local governments, reviewing power distribution and enforcing constitutional amendments.

The manifesto outlined the party’s foreign policy related to strategic global diplomacy, fostering partnerships that resonate with India’s role on the world stage, and highlighted the party’s views on national and internal security.

The manifesto emphasises “all-inclusive” development and speaks of affordable health and education, the party’s views on environment, art and culture and what it proposes to do if voted to power. It also highlights welfare measures for the LGBTQ community.

NCP

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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar released his party’s manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, highlighting that it will support the demand for a caste-based census, an issue its ally BJP has been side-stepping.

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The NCP will also demand the Bharat Ratna, the country’s highest civilian award, for the late former Maharashtra chief minister and defence minister Yashvantrao Chavan.

The other demands of the party include getting semi-English status to Urdu medium schools in the state and a minimum support price (MSP) for farm produce, he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT)

Shiv Sena (UBT)’s manifesto focuses on job creation, farm loan waiver and stopping the “loot” of Maharashtra. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray said the financial city, which he claimed was “moved to Gujarat”, will be built in Maharashtra, enabling employment opportunities in the state.

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Through the INDIA alliance government, Thackeray said, they will not only waive farm loans but also revise the conditions concerning crop insurance. He said agricultural equipment and seeds will be made free of GST (Goods and Services Tax). He also assured implementation of MSP as recommended by the Swaminathan Committee report.

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Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar said if voted to power, his party will make a strategic decision not to retire contractual employees till 58 years, and will bring a law for minimum selling price for farmers.

The party will ensure free education from kindergarten to PG classes and spend 9 per cent of funds on education, he added.

BJP

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The Maharashtra BJP has not released a manifesto for the state and is campaigning based on promises of the “Sankalp Patra” released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14. The manifesto featured India’s Olympics bid in 2036, implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), and law against paper leaks, among other promises. Read the key highlights of the Sankalp Patra here

Congress

Maharashtra Congress is following in the footsteps of its national unit, adopting the “Nyay Patra“, which is based on the five “pillars of justice” (Yuva Nyay, Naari Nyay, Kisaan Nyay, Shramik Nyay and Hissedari Nyay) with 25 guarantees under them.

Right to apprenticeship, a legal guarantee for MSP, and passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs are among the promises made by the Congress in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls.

With inputs from PTI

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