Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 20: The West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday released the Trinamool Congress manifesto for the coming state Assembly elections unveiling 10 key promises, even as the parties across the poll-bound Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and the union territory of Puducherry continued to release list of candidate for the Assembly elections to be held between April 9 and 29.
The pledges made by the TMC focussed on widening the ambit of existing welfare schemes including enhanced financial support to poor women and unemployed youths, housing for all, doorstep healthcare, aid for farmers, safe drinking water, improved school education, and the creation of seven new districts, among others.
Banerjee said the ten-point agenda would serve as a roadmap for her government over the next five years and added that these commitments would serve as the guiding map for the government once the TMC returns to power for a fourth consecutive term. “I respectfully present before you my 10 ‘pratigyas’ (pledges) as the path for our government’s journey over the next five years,” she said.
A major highlight of the manifesto was continuation in financial assistance for women under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. The TMC has promised to continue the monthly amount if it returns to power, with an increase of ₹500.
“Under Lakshmir Bhandar, with an increase of ₹500, women will continue to receive monthly financial assistance of ₹1,500 for General category beneficiaries (₹18,000 annually) and ₹1,700 for SC/ST beneficiaries (₹20,400 annually),” Banerjee said. She added that the Banglar Yuba-Sathi scheme would continue, providing ₹1,500 per month to unemployed youth.
The party also pledged a ₹30,000 crore agriculture budget to support farm families, assist landless farmers, and modernise the sector.
One another major announcement in TMC manifesto is the promise to launch doorstep delivery of healthcare service called ‘Duare Chikitsa’ under which the state government would organise health camps in each block and town every year.
“Healthcare services will reach the courtyard of every household. Through Duare Chikitsa camps in every block and town, people will have access to quality healthcare at their doorstep,” Banerjee said. She further said all government schools would undergo comprehensive infrastructure upgrades under the Banglar Shikshayatan initiative.
In Assam, the chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Himanta Biswa Sarma filed his nomination as a BJP candidate from Jalukbari Assembly constituency. The CM filed the nomination at the District Commissioner’s office of Kamrup (Metro) district in Guwahati, where he reached with a large number of BJP supporters, showcasing his strength ahead of the Assembly polls.
With the Model Code of Conduct in effect, Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) and surveillance teams were flagged off in multiple districts. The Election Commission of India on Wednesday said it seized a total of ₹42.65 crore worth of cash and other goods as of March 18, as part of the ongoing election expenditure monitoring and enforcement activities for the Assembly elections.
In Puducherry, the ruling All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) and BJP on Friday finalised a seat-sharing deal for the April 9 Assembly election. The AINRC founder and Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Friday filed nomination papers for contesting from two constituencies — Thattanchavady and Mangalam.
In Chennai, the AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Satyan hit back at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, calling him a “crybaby” after the latter criticised the State’s Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami over his visit to Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Kovai Satyan said Mr Stalin’s action stems from his “fear of failure” and realisation that his “dream of elevating” his son, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, is “shattering day by day.”
Kovai Satyan’s remarks came in response of Mr Stalin’s letter addressed to a party worker stating that Opposition’s actions reflect decisions being taken outside the State ahead of the Assembly elections. “The Opposition’s actions show that decisions are being made in Delhi. Are they there to secure funds for Tamil Nadu? To ensure stalled projects are completed? To protect State rights? No. Their focus is elsewhere. People understand this clearly… The people of Tamil Nadu will never allow domination from Delhi or those who act as its proxies. They know who stands for the State’s rights and development,” he said.
In Kerala, the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan decried the tendency of growing “parliamentary ambitions” among some cadres. His comment was on the decision of the three CPI(M) leaders to contest as independence with the backing of Congress. “It is true that an unusual trend is emerging among some leaders. Such tendencies were not common in our party earlier. It may be due to changes over time,” Mr Vijayan said, referring to leaders such as G. Sudhakaran, V. Kunhikrishnan and T.K. Govindan, who are contesting the Assembly election as Independents from Ambalappuzha, Payyanur and Taliparamba, respectively.
Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly V.D. Satheesan alleged that a section of media spread false news about the Congress’ candidate selection process at the behest of the CPI(M). A day after the media reports about uncertainty with regard to the candidature of Congress MPs K. Sudhakaran and Adoor Prakash, Satheesan said such news would not stop the party from winning the upcoming Assembly polls.
