Ahmedabad, December 7: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not touched upon the sensitive ‘Hindutva’ agenda in its election manifesto for the forthcoming Gujarat Assembly, and has instead focussed on people’s problems like housing.
The manifesto, which was released here Friday in the presence of senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, promises to make a Garibi Mukt Gujarat (poverty-free Gujarat), with the party promising ‘to provide housing to all the homeless in urban and rural areas’.
The manifesto stressed on a development agenda in spite of the controversy generated by its leader Narendra Modi’s remark justifying the fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh.
"Gujarat will work towards achieving 12 per cent economic growth in the next five years, if the party is returned to power," the BJP’s manifesto states.
In its bid to reach farmers, who have expressed their dissatisfaction of the Modi’s rule, the BJP has promised farmers in the State of 14-hour uninterrupted electricity supply as compared to eight hours being provided now.
The party has also promised to reduce the water tax for irrigation.
Modi is single-handedly spearheading the BJP campaign in Gujarat in order to retain power in the State. However, his recent election speech justifying 2005 fake encounter continues to haunt the party. The Election Commission has called for an explanation from Modi by Saturday morning.
The EC said that Modi’s speech involved violations of the Model Code of Conduct, which bars any party or candidate from indulging in any activity, which might aggravate hatred and tension between different castes and communities, religious or linguistic.
"Whatever explanation has to be given to the Election Commission on the show-cause notice issued to Narendra Modi would be given," said Jaitley.
Refusing to elaborate, Jaitley said, "I would like to say that Election Commission is a constitutional body and would give its decision without any bias."
Over 36 million voters will elect the 182-member Assembly in Gujarat in a two-phased election, as the term of the State’s Legislative Assembly is due to expire on December 26.
The first phase of elections in Gujarat will be held on December 11 and second phase on December 16. The counting of votes will take place on December 23.
The BJP managed to win 127 seats, while the Congress party was able to win only 51 seats in the 2002 Gujarat Assembly polls. The Janata Dal (United) and independents won two seats each.
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