Politics

2024 Lok Sabha Polls: Manifesto Clash Takes Center Stage in War of Words

Towards the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have been at odds over election manifestos and the promises they make. The BJP’s “Sankalp Patra,” or manifesto, titled “Modi Ki Guarantee,” was referred to by the Congress on Sunday as “a document full of rhetoric” or a “jumps Patra.” The Opposition claimed that by “jumping to 2047” in 2024, the BJP has changed the goals from what it had pledged in 2019—two crore jobs annually and double farmer earnings. The BJP has been accused by the grand old party of not keeping both of these commitments.

The BJP tried to bribe the Election Commission on Tuesday by comparing the Congress manifesto, which was dubbed the “Ghar Ghar Guarantee,” to “corrupt practices amounting to bribery.” The BJP swiftly branded the promises made by the Congress prior to the Karnataka elections, which dominated the political conversation, as “Revdis,” or freebies. In the state where the BJP was accused of corruption and faced criticism for anomalies in governance, the Congress emerged victorious primarily because of the promises made.

As part of its social justice agenda and welfare activities, the BJP defends its sops to different sectors and groups, but it also frequently accuses its opponents of offering giveaways that have negative effects on the economy and little chance of improving living standards. The BJP is taking the fight directly to the Election Commission (EC), requesting that it “immediately restrain Congress from publishing, disseminating, and distributing” guarantee cards or any other materials that it believes are meant to encourage “electoral bribery and inducement of voters.” The BJP claimed that the so-called “guarantee cards” and application forms for the promised benefits were being given to homes in its complaint to the poll commission. The BJP attacked the Congress, claiming that the guarantee cards are being approved as valid means of obtaining the “freebies, largesse, and utopian promises” that have been offered.

Also Read: After the UPSC releases its results, PM Modi addressed candidates for the civil services. “Setbacks can be difficult, but…”

Voters’ manifestos have traditionally been contentious about the promises and assurances they include. All political parties were asked in a letter from the poll panel in 2022 to provide information on the sources and means of financing their election manifesto commitments, as well as the financial ramifications of such promises. The letter from the Election Commission stated, “The trust of voters should be sought on those promises that are possible to fulfill.” Even though the Commission acknowledges that political parties have the right to publish manifestos, it said that some of the promises made in these documents have an “undesirable impact” on holding free and fair elections and preserving an even playing field for all candidates and political parties.