The Bharatiya Janata Party released its manifesto for the upcoming panchayat elections in Assam, which made promises like rural development, women empowerment, digital rule and local employment generation. In Guwahati, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and State BJP President Dilip Saikia launched the manifesto. These elections will be held in two phases on May 2 and May 7, the results of which will be declared on 11 May.
The manifesto promises 100 percent tap connection under the construction of paved roads in each gram panchayat, 24 -hour power supply, solar energy -based street lights and water life mission. Community toilets and waste management units will be set up for cleanliness. Financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to self-help groups for panchayat representatives for women, and free stalls in local haat-markets have been announced.
Drips and sprinkler irrigation at 80 percent subsidy for small farmers in agriculture, loans at low interest rates for food processing and handicraft industries, and have promised to set up the skill development center in each panchayat. Under Digital Panchayat, free Wi-Fi, transparent budget information through online portal and mobile app will be developed for government schemes.
Every panchayat in health and education plans for primary health center, free drug distribution, smart classroom, teacher recruitment and free sanitary pad distribution for adolescent girls. While releasing the manifesto, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “This manifesto is a roadmap for the development of rural Assam. Our government has already implemented many schemes, and now we will strengthen the panchayats.”
He claimed that the public is confident of the BJP, citing 325 seats won unopposed.
At the same time, the Congress termed the manifesto as “hollow” and said that roads, electricity and water problems are maintained in rural areas. In panchayat elections, 1.80 crore voters will vote at 25,007 polling stations. A total of 21,920 gram panchayat seats, 2,192 zonal panchayat seats and 397 Zilla Parishad seats are at stake. This is the first panchayat election after delimitation. This manifesto of BJP is part of the strategy to woo rural voters. Now it has to be seen how much these promises affect the voters and how the BJP’s situation will be in the election results.
