Promises galore as parties release manifestoes ahead of UP Assembly polls

It's raining promises to woo voters ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, with political parties pledging free power to farmers, lakhs of jobs, smartphones and laptops if voted to power.

After the release of manifestoes by the BJP and the Samajwadi Party (SP) the previous day, the Congress came up with its poll promises on Wednesday.

BSP president Mayawati has already declared that like in the past, they will not issue any manifesto and will go to people with achievements of the party's past governments.

To show that its manifesto is not just a piece of paper, the BJP has named it as its "Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra".

The SP has called its manifesto "Samajwadi Vichar Patra" while the Congress named it as "Unnati Vidhan Jan Ghosna Patra".

In a bid to lend credence to poll assurances, top leaders of the parties released the manifestoes.

Their poll promises have a lot of things for farmers, youth, women and other sections of the society.

The BJP in its manifesto has announced free power to farmers for irrigation, grants for borewells and tubewells to marginal farmers in addition to the minimum support price (MSP) for potato, tomato and onion.

Its vision document promises that the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat and paddy will be fortified.

Positioning himself aggressively to dethrone the BJP from power in the state, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has announced MSP for all crops, payment of cane dues within 15 days of purchase besides making farmers debt-free by 2025.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra declared they would waive farmer loans within 10 days of coming to power.

Every party has a lofty plan for the youth.

The BJP promised to provide at least one job or employment opportunity to each family.

The SP said it will create 22 lakh jobs in the IT sector and promised to reserve 33 per cent of its seats for women in all government jobs.

The SP also committed to come up with an urban employment guarantee act on the pattern of MGNREGA for workers in cities.

The Congress has promised the creation of 20 lakh jobs, 40 per cent of which will be for the women.

There are many other freebies for the youths.

The BJP in its vision document promised free scooter to college-going meritorious girls and making available two crore tablets and smartphones to students.

Yadav also promised laptops.

Not lagging behind, the Congress vowed to give smartphones to girls studying in Classes 10 and 12 besides an electric scooter to those doing graduation.

The SP has committed to provide 300 units of free electricity to households while the Congress has promised to reduce electricity bills to half.

The BJP and the SP promised to provide subsidised food to the poor from the canteens they intend to set up across the state.

The BJP said it will start "Maa Annapurna canteens" while Yadav promised to provide food at Rs 10 from "Samajwadi canteens.

The BJP said it will make available two free LPG cylinders on Holi and Diwali under the Ujjwala Yojna while the SP pledged two LPG cylinders to BPL families every year and one litre petrol for two-wheelers without any cost every month.

Every party has some exclusive promises for people.

The BJP said it will ensure 10 years in jail and Rs 1 lakh penalty in love jihad cases.

It also declared that the work on establishing an anti-terror commando centre will be completed in Deoband in next five years and similar centres will come up in Meerut, Rampur, Azamgarh, Kanpur and Bahraich.

Yadav has pledged Rs 25 lakh ex gratia to those killed during the agitation against the Centre's agriculture laws.

The Congress promised Rs 3,000 compensation for farmers for crop damage by stray cattle, a problem gripping cultivators in many areas of the state.

The BJP said it will start Metro projects in Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Bareilly, Jhansi and Prayagraj.

Under urban development, the SP promises to introduce Metro services in Agra, Prayagraj and other cities.

The BJP declared it will set up Lata Mangeshkar Performing Arts Akademi.