JOIN USCong eyes 4th term with please-all poll manifesto
The Congress on Wednesday did not attempt to “promise the moon” to voters, but gave almost all sections of society something to cheer about in its please-all manifesto.
The 16-page document, simultaneously released in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, enlists “achievable” things, said Delhi Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed at the Delhi Congress office.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit elaborated on the key offerings for the city’s over 1.16 crore voters in the December 4 Assembly elections to the 70-member Assembly. The Congress promises include double-decker flyovers, trams and mono rail, besides boosting Delhi’s per capita income by doubling the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the next five years.
The party, which has 43 legislators in the House, also said it will persevere to increase the number of women in police force to enhance security, ensure that women enrol in evening colleges under Delhi University and emphasise solar energy for a cleaner environment.
The Congress put its best foot forward to take on the most potent challenge yet from rivals in the last 15 years.
Speedy development
Dikshit and Ahmed were joined by Delhi Congress president J P Agarwal and Campaign Committee chief Subhash Chopra at a programme. “You have seen the Delhi government perform and you should support the Congress to keep up the development speed,” Dikshit appealed to voters.
She said the manifesto highlights the achievements and the schemes of the Central government that benefitted Delhi in the past 15 years.
“Delhi is like a ‘mini-India’, with almost 5 lakh migrants coming to the city annually. They all are welcomed by the Capital and they all find livelihood here. But housing is an area which will be focussed on and strengthened,” the three-time chief minister said, promising dedicated hawking zones for the vendors allegedly harassed by policemen and civic officials.
For the safety of women, the Congress suggested 20 toilets in each constituency, improved lighting in subways and higher financial support for girl students passing out of Class XII and taking up higher education.
Dikshit also promised to enhance the government’s spending on the social sector from the existing 65 per cent.
Promising to give industry status to the services sector, including BPOs, IT-based and skill development services, Dikshit said if the Congress is voted to power for the fourth term it will create 30,000 additional jobs a year.
The party promised improved education and health services. Showcasing the Bhagidari initiative – which involves residents in spending on development works in their areas, the manifesto offered to broaden the scheme and “harness the vast talent pool of citizens”. For industrialists in the city, the manifesto offered redevelopment of dedicated industrial estates and development of the national Capital region as a common economic zone.
For housewives, the Congress promised piped cooking gas supply throughout the city in the next four years.
For slum dwellers – the Congress’ traditional vote bank – the manifesto offered construction of houses at the location of their slums.