Maharashtra polls 2024: Women, farmers, jobs in focus as BJP, MVA unveil manifestos

Later in the day, reiterating the promise of Rs 3,000 per month under the Mahalakshmi Scheme for women, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge released the MVA manifesto, titled ‘Maharashtranama’, in Mumbai.

In the manifesto, the MVA promised a two-day leave every month for women employees during menstruation – a first for the state – and free cervical cancer vaccine for girls in the 9-16 age group.

While Bihar, Kerala and Odisha have the provision for menstrual leave, the Congress-led government in Karnataka earlier this year proposed to introduce a six-day annual period leave in both public and private sector. Recently, the Karnataka Labour Department sought feedback from stakeholders on the matter.

Apart from promising power bill waiver of up to 100 units for households consuming up to 300 units, the MVA manifesto also made a provision of six gas cylinders annually at Rs 500 each for each household.

At the BJP event, Shah targeted 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 also claimed that the Congress has plans to give reservation benefits to Muslims by curtailing SC, ST, and OBC quotas.

Raising concerns over the Waqf board, Shah alleged that in Congress-ruled Karnataka, the Waqf Board is usurping land belonging to farmers. “If the MVA 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 after the elections, he said the Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP will be voted back to power.

Despite the alliance, the BJP published its separate manifesto. Ajit Pawar-led NCP also released its own manifesto, while the Shiv Sena is yet to come out with its manifesto.

In a bid to promote industrialisation, the BJP in its manifesto also promised zero-interest loans up to Rs 15 lakh and creation of 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.

A crop loan waiver and other farmer-friendly policies also featured 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.

The BJP manifesto also promised free ration under Akshay Anna Yojana for low-income category.

Releasing the MVA manifesto, Kharge, flanked by allies, said, “Maharashtra election is one of the most important ones as it will not only change the future political discourse of the state but also of the nation.”

The MVA manifesto announced the rejection of the Centre’s four labour codes and also promised immediate announcement of municipal elections which haven’t been held for several years now.

While the BJP is promoting a Shaktipeeth highway connecting religious sites, the MVA promised the development of a special corridor connecting all villages visited by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.

It also promised a socio-economic caste census to ensure fair opportunities and advocate for the removal of the 50% reservation ceiling.

Focusing on employment, the manifesto promised recruitment for 2.5 lakh vacant state government posts and a streamlined MPSC exam process for timely results and transparency, and revocation of the order permitting contract-based employment in government services.

It also targeted creation of 1.25 million jobs over the next five years, and promised job-seeking youth a monthly stipend of Rs 4,000 and aiding skill development.

Apart from the Mahalakshmi Scheme, it promised free bus travel for women and loans of up to Rs 5 lakh at low interest rates for women entrepreneurs. Comprehensive measures to tackle crimes against women, including strict enforcement of the Shakti Law and ‘Nirbhay Maharashtra Policy’ will be taken, said the MVA manifesto.

Focusing agriculture, it reiterated farm loan waiver up to Rs 3 lakh, with an additional incentive of Rs 50,000 for timely repayment. It will also launch Pink and Saffron Revolutions, providing support to onion and tomato cultivators.

Along with a health insurance coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh per household, alongside free medicines in government hospitals, the MVA promised a comprehensive Health and Nutrition Mission to address healthcare disparities among tribal populations.