Dreams of Delhi, but the pitch remains local

Hoping to get a slice of power at the Centre in case an Opposition coalition replaces the Modi dispensation, regional parties in their manifestos for the coming general elections have delved into the basic aspects of social justice with a range of promises for farmers, women and youth.

To complement its anti-Modi rhetoric, the Trinamul Congress in its manifesto reiterated the commitment to secularism and promised to launch a high-level judicial investigation into the government’s decision to ban high-value currency notes.

The Mamata Banerjee-led party also focused on its Kanyashri programme for cash assistance for girls’ education and marriage after 18 years and promised to implement it across the country. Health for all, bigger education spending and a job-oriented education system were some other promises made by Didi in her party’s national manifesto.

The TMC also promised to reinstate the Planning Commission, saying this would enable dialogue between states and the Centre on development issues.

“We will target ‘no unbanked villages in the country’. Post offices, which have a huge reach at the grassroots level in the country, will be restructured to become an instrument of financial inclusion,” the document said, also promising a fresh look at the land acquisition policy.

Electricity for all villages and a new forest law where rights of forest dwellers need to be protected and restored and a special scheme for the people living in hills were some of the other promises made.

On the economic front, the TMC promised to create jobs, offer subsidy to farmers, keep inflation and fuel prices under check and oppose foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail.

The Samajwadi Party, a force in the Hindi heartland, focused on women and poor in its vision document. It promised Rs 3,000 per month to women from poor families under the Samajwadi Pension Yojana and a mega farm loan waiver.

The document also promised to spend six per cent of the GDP on education, and impose an extra two per cent tax on people with assets of more than Rs 2.5 crore.

Party president Akhilesh Yadav also spoke of establishing an Ahir (Yadav community) regiment and a Gujarat Infantry in the Army. He also promised a welfare scheme for the families of Armymen. The BSP, the other regional party from Uttar Pradesh, has not release its manifesto yet.  The RJD in Bihar is likely woo voters with bigger reservation for the deprived in jobs and colleges.

In the south, the DMK, which released its manifesto earlier this week, promised to waive off all education and farmer loans if voted to power. It also promised to increase the exemption limit for income tax from `5 lakh to `8 lakh. For women and disabled, it promised to further increase it to Rs 10 lakh.

Arch rivals AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, have promised to ensure that farmers hit by recession in agriculture are taken care of by special schemes. It also promised to work on the Centre to stop the entry of FDI in retail.

The TRS, another strong regional force in the Southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, said that it would continue to press and fight for implementation of 33 per cent reservation to Backward Classes and 33 per cent reservation to women in legislatures.

The party also pointed out that the Telangana state Assembly had passed a resolution for provision of 12 per cent reservation to Scheduled Tribes and 12 per cent reservation to economically backward Muslims. "For implementing these reservations the state government will continue to fight for their cause with the Centre," the TRS said.

Apart from homes for poor and an unemployment dole of Rs 3,016, TRS promised to hike Aasara pensions for widows, the elderly and backward communities will be enhanced from `1,000 to `2,016 while the pensions for differently-abled persons will be enhanced from `1,500 to `3,016. The TDP has also tried to woo farmers with the promise of free power for 12 hour and interest free loans.

For rural women, N. Chandrababu Naidu has offered cash transfers of up to `10,000 and free smartphones. Unemployment allowance of `3,000, free laptops and vehicle loans for minority youth have been promised to impress the young voters.

Mr Naidu's rival, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has also offered free farm loans in its YSR Congress manifesto. He also promised `7 lakh aid to farm widows, old age pension and financial assistance to kidney patients, liquor ban, 1.30 lakh jobs and 25 lakh houses.