In a big move before the Maharashtra Assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the BJP’s manifesto, which is labeled as ‘Sankalp Patra,’ in Mumbai. It outlines crucial initiatives such as increasing the monthly assistance for women under the Ladki Bahin Yojana and having plans to make Maharashtra an Artificial Intelligence hub, among other measures for price control of essential items.
The event also saw Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, and Union Minister Piyush Goyal attend. Voting is slated for November 20, for which the ruling Mahayuti coalition comprising BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP comprising Ajit Pawar would want to repeat its power in what promises to be an exciting electoral battle.
In his speech, Shah said that the government is duty-bound to uphold dignity for farmers, the poor, and women and that the manifesto represented the aspirations of the people of Maharashtra. “Maharashtra has traditionally led the country in many spheres. The Bhakti movement, the fight against oppression, and social revolutions are all here. Our Sankalp Patra embodies the hopes and dreams of the people,” he said.
Shah also targeted the opposition alliance, Maha Vikas Aghadi, which is Congress, Shiv Sena of (UBT), and NCP of Sharad Pawar. He asked voters to beware of their promise as those in Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka had never been honored. “The people trust the promises made by Mahayuti,” he added.
It enhances the allowance under the Ladki Bahin scheme from ₹1,500 per month to ₹2,100 and promises enhanced loan waiver for farmers. The manifesto declares food security and guarantees proper housing. The monthly old-age pension will be ₹2,100 per month. It is committed to stabilizing the prices of essential commodities.
It promises to create 25 lakh new jobs and stipends of ₹ 10,000 for 10 lakh students to boost employment. Infrastructure development: roads in more than 45,000 villages, a pledge of 30% less on the power bills through renewable energy projects.
For this, the BJP brought out its vision document, ‘Vision Maharashtra @2028,’ to make Maharashtra a $1 trillion economy. For the fiscal year 2022-23, it had an estimated GSDP of $435 billion. Its manifesto aims to make Maharashtra a fintech and AI capital, apart from its cities like Nagpur, Pune, and Nashik as aerospace hubs.
The BJP also pledges to make 50 lakh state women economically independent by 2027. Other pledges mentioned in the Sankalp Patra include artificial intelligence training in government schools, skill census, assistance to entrepreneurs, financial help to students from underprivileged classes, and health insurance for all citizens.
The party also promised to bring a law against forced conversion and implement technological solutions to reduce man-animal conflict situations.
