Sena-BJP bitten by Cong's social inclusion bug

The social inclusion bug has bitten the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance as it struggles to keep up with the Congress’s inclusive agenda bandwagon.

The Opposition alliance, in its manifesto for the October 13 Maharashtra Assembly elections, promises a separate ministry for the welfare of nomadic tribes, 15 per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions for economically backward classes.

Stabilising commodity prices, and jobs and abolition of octroi from grade-IV municipal corporations in the state have also been promised by it. The ‘vachan nama’ was released by Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray in the presence of senior BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari at the Shiv Sena Bhavan in central Mumbai today.

The Sena is known for its organisational skills, developed as a ‘pyramid’ with Shiv Sainiks spread out in a network in all local areas. Accordingly, the manifesto says a ‘Shiv Sampark Cell’ with state-of-the-art technology will be established to keep abreast of the people’s problems and a separate ministry will be created to coordinate between the government and the people.

Thackeray said the Shiv Sena had earlier set up a helpline and also created an email ID seeking suggestions for preparing the saffron alliance’s manifesto. The initiative drew an overwhelming response. “We don’t intend to stop this initiative after elections and will continue this dialogue with citizens,” he said.

“The Sena-BJP combine will provide soft loans to farmers at 4 per cent interest, Rs 500 pension for farm labourers, work towards stabilising prices of five essential commodities for five years, set up a separate ministry for nomadic tribes and provide 15 per cent reservation for economically backward sections in jobs and education,” Munde, a BJP general secretary, said.

The Sena-BJP alliance has also promised to make the state power surplus within three years of assuming charge. This apart, its other focus areas will be on developing water transport in Mumbai and all efforts will be made to turn the megapolis into a truly international city.

The Shiv Sena-BJP government will make the report of the Pradhan committee, which probed the lapses that led to 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, public and ensure appropriate action against the guilty, Gadkari said.

A museum will be set up in Mumbai depicting the ‘Samyukta Maharashtra’ movement and a permanent mechanism would be created to stop the inflow of illegal migrants, Thackeray said.

Interestingly, no tax or any other punitive measures for non-Maharashtrians working in Maaharashtra has been proposed, although it was discussed earlier. There is also a marked absence of any strong Hindutva edge to the manifesto.

Out of the 288 Assembly constituencies, the Sena will contest 169 seats while the BJP will fight the remaining 119.