Four days before the voting, that is, on Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party has released its manifesto in Uttarakhand. In this, the party's agenda is land jihad and love jihad, a promise to conduct pilgrimage on the lines of Aam Aadmi Party and Congress, and a ritual promise of providing jobs to the youth. Along with this, the special item of this election is a free gas cylinder.
Polling for 70 seats in Uttarakhand is to be held on February 14. Simultaneous elections are being held in all the seats of the state. But the question is whether the manifesto is going to have any impact on the party's (BJP) performance in the elections?
The elections being held to form the fifth government in Uttarakhand are in a way issueless. The Congress party is in the fray to form the government with the leadership and face of Harish Rawat, while the BJP is trying to stay in power with the help of Modi's brilliance.
Similarly, the Aam Aadmi Party is fighting for its place in the state mainly based on Kejriwal's name and work.
Congress had released its manifesto at the beginning of the month. There is something for everyone in this detailed manifesto of 68 pages. There is also an announcement to set up a Journalists Welfare Board for journalists.
Aam Aadmi Party has not released its manifesto. The party says that only five guarantees of Kejriwal are the manifesto of the party.
BJP manifesto
Out of the 12-page manifesto released by the BJP four days before the polling, five pages are only campaigning. The remaining 25 promises made are printed like headlines.
The Congress is claiming that its manifesto has been liked so much that it has to reprint copies. On the other hand, BJP's election announcement has come so late that doubts are being expressed about whether it will be able to reach the entire state before voting.
Senior journalist and political observer Yogesh Bhatt says that the BJP does not think that this manifesto is going to make any difference.
He says that 'this is just a formality which the BJP is doing so far, otherwise it has left even the formalities of mentioning state agitators and journalists in the manifesto.'
Senior journalist Dr. Ajay Dhoundiyal says, "BJP knows that no one is going to read this manifesto. He had already said what he had to say. Whatever the Congress said, the Aam Aadmi Party picked up the promises made by them, but some of its temper and presented it in its vision paper.
You have made the cylinder so expensive that people are not able to take it. You know this is a matter that not even Modi magic can make disappear. That's why you promised to give three cylinders to poor women. You have announced jobs but have not been recruited. Now they are saying that they will recruit as soon as they come... they would have done it earlier. BJP's vision paper is just an attempt to throw dust in the eyes.
'Land-Jihad, not Land-Law'
Yogesh Bhatt says that in Uttarakhand, BJP is once again seen relying on the central government and Modi magic. The works that the BJP is claiming to be doing in Uttarakhand like the development of trains and highways in the mountains are all the work of the Centre. What's in it for the state government?
Dr. Dhoundiyal says, "Actually, the BJP is adept at taking the work of others as its own. BJP describes the state as Atal Ji's gift to the state achieved by years of struggle and sacrifice. Similarly, the land law, which was raised by the youth of the state as a land-related issue before the elections, has been changed by the BJP as Land-Jihad. Land-law is the issue of Uttarakhand is of Uttarakhand, but land-jihad is only BJP's agenda.
Yogesh Bhatt says, "BJP's arrogance is visible in this manifesto. It seems that we were there before and now we will come again. We have to stay in the center. That's why what we have said will be correct.
The issue of illegal occupation of land in Uttarakhand is a ground reality. Illegal occupation of the state land is happening continuously for 20 years. Only Muslims are rarely occupying. Illegal occupations are taking place in the name of builders, contractors, politicians, and the ashram.
He further says that the BJP's concern is that the vote bank of Muslims is organized. She doesn't want it to be strong.
The population of Muslims in the state is said to be up to 15 percent. It is dense in Haridwar, Roorkee, then it is spread in many areas from Dehradun to Kumaon and Garhwal.
Modi trust again
Political observers are still seeing a fight between the BJP and the Congress in Uttarakhand. According to experts, the impact of Prime Minister Modi's and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's rallies in the state can be decisive.
BJP is seeking votes in the name of making the current Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami the Chief Minister again. However, the party's emphasis is only on Modi magic.
Yogesh Bhatt says, "BJP has now replaced Congress. Earlier BJP was called an urban party and Congress used to have a mass base in villages. Now the Modi magic has started decreasing in the cities but people in the villages are still ready to vote in the name of Modi.
As far as Pushkar Singh Dhami is concerned, he could not do anything. Neither did he get the time nor could he muster enough confidence. If BJP wins the election, it will be Modi's victory... It would be wrong to say Dhami's victory.
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