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In the race to finish line, Pied Pipers of poll promises
The BJP and the Congress have left no stone unturned in a no holds-barred election campaign, making claims that are impossible to fulfil in a lifetime.
By
migrator
migrator
Chennai
Election manifestos are not just papers, they are public declaration of respective political parties’ objectives and plans. When it comes to electoral promise there is not much difference in DMK’s and AIADMK’s manifestos.
DMK has largely tried to fulfil its manifesto promises. Among them are:
Declaring Tamil as classical language and the Sethu Samudram Project though it got government’s approval, it could not be implemented due to environmental issues; abolition of POTA Act; a Railway Division with Salem as headquarters; additional funds for education, all came into action because of DMK party’s sustained effort.
Both parties have talked of some similar issues. Anti-Hindi agitation, giving prominence to Sri Lanka issue, federal in union and autonomy in state, share in central tax revenue, to reclaim Kachatheevu, declaring Tamil as official language, releasing the seven convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi murder, Tamil Nadu fisherman issue, voice against Mekedatu dam construction, Cauvery issue, linking of rivers, secularism and minorities welfare.
Apart from this AIADMK has included in their manifesto, DMK’s long time demands of bringing education to state list, against uniform civil code, reservation in private sector and delcaring delta retion a protected agricultural zone.
The key emphasis of AIADMK-manifesto seems to be on eradication of poverty and a direct transfer of Rs 1,500 per month to the families of poor and needy, called ANPEI (Amma National Poverty Eradication Initiative)
Also, encashing on its alliance with BJP, the ruling party at the Centre, the manifesto mentions that the party would urge the Centre for pushing water management schemes, loan waiver for small and marginal farmers, exempting NEET exams for professional courses, legislation for reservation in private sector, bringing justice to Eelam Tamils, and release of seven Tamil convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi case, and against bringing Uniform Civil Code legislation. They also promised to urge the Central Government to grant full statehood to Puducherry.
On the other hand, DMK manifesto specifically holds BJP responsible for derailment of Indian economy, abysmal performance on all macro-economic indicators, including special mentions of small and medium enterprises facing sickness or closure.
The manifesto mentions in detail the way forward if the party and its alliance partners win in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Some interesting points in the agenda, includes, controlling petrol/diesel prices, Tamil as court language in Madras High Court, free rail-travel for students, preventing social media from posting obscene material.
While the two major fronts in the state know, that the possibility of fulfilling their promises to the people of Tamil Nadu, depends on their alliance partners, BJP for AIADMK, and Congress for DMK, coming to power at the Centre, the national parties themselves are grappling to convince the voters across India with their tall promises in their respective manifestos.
Fundamentally, BJP manifesto is pushing for a nationalist agenda, harping on securing the nation, the populist measures and politics of doling out money to farmers, needy, and poor have forced their way into the party’s poll-promises.
Experts feel, including mega-sops, like PM-KISAN Yojana, in the BJP manifesto has also been force-fitted, as a pre-emptive response to NYAY. Nyuntam Ayay Yojna (NYAY) is a minimum income guarantee scheme by Congress, estimated to cost the exchequer approximately Rs 3.6 lakh crore per annum, highlighted as a “Brahmastra” in the Congress manifesto, that Congress Party president, Rahul Gandhi, is making voters believe, is a historical game changer.
Everyone knows that DMK's coalition partner is not in agreement with a lot of DMK's assurances especially reclaiming Kachatheevu, Sri Lankan issue, sharing 60 per cent tax revenue to state and bringing Sethu Samudram project.
The old proverb “Promises are made to be Broken” seems to be holding true in this season of making political promises, and counter promises, as the elections move forward.
It is also said that the man on the street can easily see through the poll-promises. The voters’ choices are held in the EVMs, till May 23, when the results will be announced.
A glocalised dream sold to a local audience
- Narendra Modi says he will lay roadmap to make India a 5 trillion dollar country by 2025, while Rahul Gandhi says a newly designed NRI investment scheme will be in place to proivde more opportunities to invest in India
- Congress says if voted to power the party will take determined steps to persuade other countries to compel Pakistan to verifiably end its support to the terrorist groups that it shelters, while the BJP says its government will sternly deal with Pakistan to ensure it stops export of terror
- BJP says it will create an environment to connect stake holders in a multi-polar world and the rise of India is the new reality and we shall play a major role in shaping global agenda in the 21st century, and committed to seeking Permanent Membership of UN Security Council, while Congress promises to establish a national council on foreign policy consisting of members of Cabinet Committee on Security, scholars, domain experts and diplomats to advice the government on matters concerning foreign policy
- On national security, Congress says it will ensure that defence spending is increased to meet the requirement of the armed forces, and to expedite all modernisation programmes of the armed forces in a transparent manner, while BJP says the government will speed up purchases of outstanding defence related weapons and make India self-reliant in defence sector
- Congress says it will establish effective mechanism with neighbouring countries, especially Sri Lanka and Pakistan to resolve the problems faced by fishermen to eliminate conflict, coercive action and loss of lives, while BJP promises to implement a coastal security scheme and strengthen coastal security by allocating additional fund
News Research Department
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