CINEHIND

Breaking News

Mock drills announced in states on May 7 amid Indo-Pak tensions: 'Air raid sirens, civilian training'

Election Manifesto Showdown: BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ vs Congress’s ‘Nyay Patra’

Kalyani Jha
14 Apr, 2024

The stage is set for a fierce electoral battle as both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress party have unveiled their respective manifestos for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Here’s a comprehensive comparison of the key highlights from both manifestos:

1. The Theme and Approach:

• BJP: The manifesto, titled ‘Modi Ki Guarantee,’ emphasizes the party’s commitment to the development of women, youth, the underprivileged, and farmers. It lays down 14 promises focusing on these pillars.

• Congress: With Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodi Nyay Yatra imprint, the manifesto ‘Nyay Patra’ centers around five ‘pillars of justice’ aimed at youth, women, farmers, workers, and participatory justice.

2. Youth Empowerment:

• BJP: Promises implementation of a law against paper leaks, filling government vacancies, promoting startups, expanding employment opportunities, and enhancing credit programs like Mudra.

• Congress: Introduces a Yuva Nyay program, Right to Apprenticeship Act, and plans to fill government vacancies, particularly addressing issues faced by the youth during the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Senior Citizens Focus:

• BJP: Expands Ayushman Bharat Yojana to cover senior citizens above 70 years and facilitates convenient facilities for sacred pilgrimages.

• Congress: Enhances pensions, restores travel concessions, and enforces rights for persons with disabilities under the National Social Assistance Programme.

4. Agricultural Sector Support:

• BJP: Strengthens PM Fasal Bima Yojana, increases Minimum Support Prices (MSP), and focuses on technological interventions in agriculture.

• Congress: Guarantees legal MSP as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission, appoints a Permanent Commission on Agricultural Finance, and supports farmers’ welfare.

5. Women’s Welfare:

• BJP: Empowers 3 crore rural women, expands health services, and commits to Women’s Reservation Bill for political representation.

• Congress: Launches Mahalakshmi scheme, reserves central government jobs for women, doubles working women hostels, and promotes women’s rights.

6. Healthcare Initiatives:

• BJP: Strengthens AIIMS, expands healthcare schemes, and enhances Jan Aushadhi Kendra network for affordable medicines.

• Congress: Adopts Rajasthan Model of cashless insurance, ensures universal healthcare, and increases budget allocation for healthcare.

7. Economic Goals:

• BJP: Aims to make India the 3rd largest economic power, focuses on employment generation, supports taxpayers, and emphasizes low inflation.

• Congress: Targets doubling GDP, ensures gig workers’ rights, supports free trade, and reorients tax policies for employment and investment.

8. Education and Skill Development:

• BJP: Upgrades educational institutions, adopts dynamic learning curriculum, and promotes skill development aligned with industry needs.

• Congress: Makes education compulsory and free up to Class XII, revisits National Education Policy, and emphasizes STEM subjects.

9. National Security Measures:

• BJP: Establishes military theatre commands, accelerates border infrastructure development, equips armed forces with modern technology, and strengthens counter-extremism efforts.

• Congress: Focuses on comprehensive national security strategy, appoints CDS transparently, and implements OROP as per UPA government’s order.

10. Environment Preservation:

• BJP: Focuses on clean air, river rejuvenation, and environmental standards enforcement.

• Congress: Strengthens NCAP, establishes an independent Environment Protection and Climate Change Authority, and emphasizes climate change plans.

With contrasting visions and strategies outlined in their manifestos, both parties are vying for voter support as the election campaign intensifies across the country.