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Cheaper power, lower inflation and free medicines for life, were few of the promises the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made in its manifesto, which was released here today.
The party said its first priority was to ensure that Delhi got all the powers back from the Central government. At present, subjects such as law and order, and urban development are not controlled by the Delhi government, but by the Central government.
However, implementing this will need the nod of the Central government, as it requires a Constitutional amendment, which can only be initiated by the Centre.
“The division of responsibilities under the current system, among the municipal corporation and village bodies, state governments and Central government is without any sound rationale and hence impractical and also ineffective,” the manifesto says.
The manifesto, which is aimed at the middle-class, talks of reining corruption, promoting the use of solar power, substituting the traditional methods of administration with e-governance, stretching the boundaries of the Delhi Metro within and outside Delhi, and developing a system of Mono Rail in the capital.
The campaign of the BJP in the capital has been dominated by the issue of price rise. The manifesto promises that the prices of onions, tomatoes and vegetables will be brought under control within 30 days of coming power. Though the manifesto doesn’t talk of how they will do this, it says the party will work for reforming the public distribution system and modeling it on Chhattisgarh’s pattern. In addition, it will increase the number of subsidised gas cylinders from nine to 12 per family in one year.
To fight corruption, the BJP said it will stress on the use of e-governance. All tenders will be made available online, and the process of awarding big tenders will be video recorded. An Accountability Commission will be established for efficient use of public money. But, unlike the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party, the party has not recommended bringing a new Lok Pal bill. Instead, it suggest that the institution of Lokayukta will be made affective by assigning ‘sufficient powers’.
For reducing crime and improving law and order, the party said it will establish a ‘Speedy Justice Commission’ to suggest measures for ensuring justice without delay.
Evening courts will be opened and courts and tribunals falling in one district will be brought under a single campus.
In spite of reservations within the party, the manifesto mentions reducing tariffs by 30 per cent. However, no time frame has been given. The party proposes to cut the electricity expenditure, by promoting competition among the power distributing companies (discoms) and bringing them under the ambit of the Right to Information Act and the Comptroller and Auditor General.
An ambitious part of the manifesto is implementing the ‘Essential Drug Policy’, through which 25 essential drugs will be made available lifelong for all residents of the capital.
Polls are scheduled for December 4 in the national capital.
| BJP’s promises: |
| 1. Complete statehood to Delhi |
| 2. On tackling corruption: |
| a. Stress on e-governance to tackle corruption in administration. All tenders to be made available on website. Process of awarding big tenders to be video recorded. |
| b. Accountability Commission to be established for efficient use of public money. |
| 3. Law and Order: |
| a. All courts and tribunals falling in a district to be brought under a single campus. |
| b. Increase in number of evening courts for speedy justice. |
| c. Establishment of ‘Speedy Justice Commission’ to suggest measures for ensuring justice without delay. |
| d. Speedy justice for victims of the 1984 riots. |
| 4. Reining in price rise: |
| a. Prices of onions, tomatoes, and other vegetables to be brought under control within 30 days. |
| b. Process of acquisition and public distribution shall be computerized. The PDS system to be modeled on Chhattisgarh pattern. |
| c. Subsidised gas cylinders to be increased from nine to 12 per family in one year. |
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5. Power tariffs |
a. Reduction of 30 per cent in power tariff by promoting competition in distributing companies (discoms) and bringing them under CAG and RTI.
7. Transport
