Opinion

Promises to the people

How the respective party manifestoes stack up

Compare and Contrast

BJP

Sankalp Patral

76 pages

Cong

Nyay Patral

48 pages

CPM CPI(M)

Election Manifesto 44 pages

DMK

DMK ElectionManifesto 68 pages

SP

Janta Ka Maang Patral 20 pages

RJD

Parivartan Patral 12 pages

TMC

All India Trinamool Congress Manifesto 104 pages

AAP None so far; just a website AAP Ka RamRajya

On CAA

BJP “will implement it”

Cong, SP, RJD silent

DMK, CPM, TMC will scrap it

On Inflation

BJP says it “demonstrated low inflation”

Cong names it as one of its twin challenges

CPM, RJD, SP,TMC mention it

DMK silent

On J&K

BJP lists it under Surakshit Bharat. Says revoked Article 370 has led to a “significant reduction in violence” there

Cong says itwill restore full statehood toJammu andKashmir; DMKand CPM too

RJD, SP, TMC silent

On Minimum Support Price

BJP talks about “unprecedented hike”

Cong says it will give a legal guarantee and so do CPM and DMK

RJD, SP, TMC say they support MS Swaminathan Committee recommendations

On Foreign Policy

BJP lists 18 points among which figure becoming permanent member of the UN Security Council, bringing back artefacts and preserving and promoting the legacy of Lord Ram

Cong makes a reference to the ongoing Gaza conflict and pledges to “restore India’s global reputation as a voice of peace and moderation”

CPM talks abouta non-alignedforeign policy”

On Agnipath Scheme

Cong, SP, RJD, DMK, TMC say they will scrap it

BJP is silent

CPM mentions it

On Old Pension Scheme

SP, RJD promiseto revive

BJP, Cong and DMK don’t mention it

CPM talks of putting in place a “benefit-defined pension scheme”

Who mentions migrant workers

BJP, Cong, DMK, CPM, TMC

Who talks about paper leaks

BJP, Cong, SP,DMK, TMC

Who talks about environment

BJP, Cong, CPM, DMK, SP, TMC

One-offs

BJP

Uniform Civil Code

Make one nation, one election a reality

Cong

Special Category status to Andhra Pradesh

Emphasise studyof STEM subjectsin schools andcolleges

CPM

Complete elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction

Exit from alliances like, India-US Defence Framework Agreement, QUAD and I2U2

Removal of all military bases inour region

TMC

Census will be conducted

New Digital Liberties Bill will be introduced in Parliament to safeguard digital rights of citizens

West Bengal will be officially renamed ‘Bangla’

Author: Upala Sen

Source: The Telegraph online