New Delhi: Monthly financial assistance to women, government jobs, LPG cylinders at Rs 500, support for the elderly, a housing scheme for the poor – ahead of the Haryana assembly elections, the Congress and the BJP’s poll manifestos bear several similarities.
While the BJP manifesto was unveiled by Union minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday (September 19) and includes 20 guarantees, the Congress’s was released by party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday and includes, in contrast, seven guarantees.
Here we compare the two poll documents ahead of elections in the state on October 5.
Financial assistance to women, cheaper LPG cylinders
Like the Congress manifesto that promises monthly assistance worth Rs 2,000 to women, the BJP manifesto also promises monthly assistance to women under the Lado Lakshmi Yojana, but at an increased amount of Rs 2,100.
Both the BJP and the Congress promise to provide LPG cylinders at Rs 500.
Government jobs
While the Congress promises to provide two lakh government jobs to the youth, the BJP in its manifesto promises employment for five lakh youth under the national entrepreneurship scheme, which includes a monthly stipend.
In addition, the BJP also promises to set up ten industrial cities on the line of the Industrial Model Township (IMT) Kharkhoda, and that industries in the area will be given special incentives to provide 50,000 jobs to youth from nearby villages.
Housing
While the Congress manifesto promises to provide a 100 yard-plot and a two-room house at a cost of Rs 3.5 lakhs, the BJP pledges to build five lakh urban and rural homes.
Free electricity and health insurance
While the Congress promises to provide free electricity for up to 300 units and free healthcare for expenses upto Rs 25 lakh, the BJP in its manifesto promises free health cover for up to Rs 10 lakh and up to Rs 5 lakh for senior citizens above the age of 70, as well as free dialysis in government hospitals and diagnosis in all hospitals.
MSP
Facing protests from farmers over the legal guarantee for minimum support prices (MSPs), the BJP manifesto does not make any such promise, but only pledges to provide MSP for 24 crops.
The Congress manifesto, like its 2024 Lok Sabha election promise, promises to bring a legal guarantee for MSP if voted to power.
Welfare of SCs, STs, OBCs
For the welfare of SCs, STs and OBCs, the BJP promises to guarantee loans up to Rs 25 lakh for all OBC entrepreneurs in addition to the Mudra scheme and full scholarship to students from Haryana belonging to SC/ST/OBC communities in any government engineering and medical college in the country.
In contrast, the Congress has reiterated its 2024 Lok Sabha election promise of a caste census if it forms the government in Haryana.
In addition, it promises to increase the upper annual income limit for creamy layer OBCs in the state to Rs 10 lakh. After the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP in Haryana increased the limit from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh.
Pension and senior citizen support
The Congress under its social security promises pledges Rs 6,000 as pension for the old, disabled and widows. It also promises to restore the old pension scheme.
The BJP promises to provide a dearness allowance and pension based on a “scientific formula”.
Guaranteed employment for Agniveers and other BJP promises
After facing reverses in Haryana in the Lok Sabha elections and amid widespread discontent over the Agnipath scheme, the BJP has promised to guarantee government employment for Agniveers.
In addition, it also promises to set up sports nurseries in every district for the Olympic Games; a rapid rail transport system from Delhi to Palwal, Dharuhera, Rohtak and Panipat with the Union government’s assistance; and scooters to college-going female students from rural areas among other things.
