The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly election, which includes promises such as the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, 10 lakh jobs in the manufacturing sector, and a State Capital Region tag for Bengaluru.
The manifesto, named BJP Praja Pranalike, was unveiled by the party’s national president JP Nadda, along with Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai and veteran party leader BS Yediyurappa, among others. The party’s vision for the state is “justice to all, appeasement to none,” and its promises touch every section of society.
The BJP has promised to implement the Uniform Civil Code in the state based on the recommendations given by a high-level committee to be constituted for the purpose. It has also promised the introduction of the National Register of Citizens and the speedy deportation of all illegal migrants.
Other promises include monthly ration kits for households below the poverty line, a fixed deposit scheme for women from scheduled castes and tribes, and a plan to develop Karnataka into a hub of electric vehicles.
The Congress, which is also contesting the election, is yet to release its manifesto. During the campaign, the party promised 200 units of free power to all homes, 10 kg of rice to BPL households, ₹ 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head in every family, and a monthly allowance of ₹ 3,000 to unemployed graduates.
Janata Dal (Secular), the other party in the race, has promised legislation to provide reservations to Kannadigas in the private sector and to push the central government to hold civil services and defense recruitment exams in Kannada too.
The BJP’s manifesto also promises to improve the “ease of living” for apartment residents in Bengaluru through a consultative committee. It has said that it will launch an initiative to drive collaboration between small and medium-sized industries and industrial training institutes. At the school level, the BJP has promised a plan under which the state government will team up with eminent individuals and institutions for the upgradation of state-run schools.
The manifesto also promises to boost the public healthcare infrastructure by establishing a clinic with diagnostic facilities in every municipal ward and free annual health check-ups for senior citizens.
For farmers, the party has promised a ₹ 30,000 crore fund to set up micro cold storage facilities, agro-processing units in every gram panchayat, and modernization of agricultural produce committees. In the tourism sector, the manifesto promises a ₹ 1,500 crore plan to develop several circuits and corridors to transform Karnataka into the country’s top tourism hub.
The BJP has also promised to identify 10 lakh housing sites for the homeless. The move to abolish the 4% reservation for Muslims and divide it equally between Lingayats and Vokkaligas has sparked protests from the Opposition, with the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) promising to restore the reservation if they come to power.
