BJP promises transparency, integrity in Delhi

The BJP Tuesday promised "utmost transparency" and a leadership of "unimpeachable integrity" if it was voted to power in Delhi.

Releasing a vision document ahead of the polls Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also pledged zero tolerance vis-a-vis corruption, fiscal prudence, "fullest accountability" and "maximum measurability".

The document, which takes the place of an election manifesto, was framed by a team led by BJP leader and union Minister Harsh Vardhan, who was the BJP's chief ministerial nominee in the December 2013 Delhi election.

It also vowed to address fundamental issues like power, water, health care and the transport system in the capital.

"If we want to make Delhi a smart and a world class city, we have to address the basic issues like electricity, water and transport," BJP Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay told the media here.

"We have promised one lakh houses for the middle class," he said. "This election will decide which path the capital will choose."

But unlike in the 2013 manifesto, there is no mention in the document for the long-standing demand for statehood for Delhi.

Adding that each issue in the document was "equally important", the party's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi said it covered 35 areas as well as over 270 points concerning every resident of Delhi.

"It covers many areas and includes cleaning the Yamuna river, housing for the poor, power, development of villages, education, justice to victims of 1984 riots, protection of northeastern immigrants, law and order and art and culture," Bedi said.

BJP leader Prabhat Jha assured that all promises made in the document would be fulfilled.

The party said the deliverables would be achieved by "detailed and thorough analyses of all available resources", "expert advisory councils on matters of strategic importance", "regular field visits" and "complete alignment with the government of India", among others.

On the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the chief minister would give a monthly radio address -- "Dil ki Baat" -- to apprise people of the progress of various programmes.