An occurrence almost every election season, it is time for political parties to once again manipulate voter choices by making some promises, announcing some concessions and offering hard-earned “freebies”.
Voting is going to be held in seven states in the new year. Five of them – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand – will have assembly elections in the early months of the year. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat will go to polls later in the year.
There are two major states in these electoral states: the most populous Uttar Pradesh and the most controversial Punjab. It’s raining free in both.
Call them concessions or promises, freebies have a place in all election manifestos of political parties during the election season. “Political Free Gifts” are carefully crafted keeping in mind the voter base and preferences. They can be anything: subsidies on basic necessities like food and clothing; Free essentials like electricity and housing; Schemes to raise the standard of living such as free education or travel; Or even daily need things like free wifi, TV, laptop.
The Supreme Court had earlier said that freebies promised by political parties in their election manifestos make free and fair elections impossible and “disturb a level playing field”. Recently, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu had also suggested that there should be a wider debate on giving free donations to political parties. in a report published by times of IndiaNaidu said, “We are all aware of the current scenario of governments helping out free of cost for obvious reasons. While it is an important responsibility of governments to ensure welfare and social security of the needy people, the time has come for this. But there is a wide debate…”
Experts have also said that the freebie policy could have a financial impact on the budget, which, in turn, undermines the real results of “welfare schemes”. According to a report in HinduProfessor Sanjay Kumar, Director, Center for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), said freebies in India are neither a recent nor a special phenomenon and were a general offer from political parties ahead of elections.
“But every party, be it the Congress or the BJP, everyone has resorted to it. The failure of parties and governments to deliver development to the common people has increased the phenomenon of “freebies” and parties have to resort to it to win over voters.
During its campaign for the upcoming assembly elections, the BJP has accused the Congress of “gifting freebies” over the past 70 years to garner votes instead of empowering the people of India.
The party’s national president JP Nadda said the Narendra Modi-led government, meanwhile, had extended support to people in “self-reliant and empowering” through initiatives like the Ujjwala scheme and Ayushman Bharat.
In an apparent attack on the AAP-led government in Delhi, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also said that the economy of his state was better than that of Delhi as they (the ruling party) “spoiled their economy for free”. Was”.
Call it “irresponsible populism” or “bribing”, the party offering the better deal can influence or manipulate voters. No concession, no manifesto.
So, here’s a look at who’s offering what:
Uttar Pradesh
As the mother of all assembly elections this year, Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in February. The political battlefield is heating up as parties are doing their best to woo voters.
Aam Aadmi Party has announced to provide 300 units of free electricity if it comes to power. The party said that all electricity dues would be waived off and farmers would get free electricity. The party has also promised employment guarantee and a big budget for education in its manifesto.
Looks like emulating you is the latest trend. Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav had also promised free electricity for irrigation to farmers if voted to power on Saturday. He also promised 300 units of free electricity to all households. He said it would be a part of the election manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections.
With national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi campaigning for the oldest party, the Congress is playing the “women card”. The party has promised 40 per cent reservation for women in assembly tickets and has released a separate manifesto for women only. Sample this: Smartphones and electric two-wheelers for girls, increase in pension for widows and senior citizens, increase in honorarium for ASHA and Anganwadi workers, free bus travel for women in the state, three free gas cylinders a year.
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Lok Dal has promised to increase the amount under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi from Rs 6,000 to Rs 12,000 and for small farmers to Rs 15,000.
While the BJP has slammed the opposition parties for giving ‘free gifts’, the ruling party’s own concessions and free facilities are not far behind. PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (Rs 6,000 to each farmer in three installments)
Every year) there is one such soap. Others include PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana; pension for widows and senior citizens;
Funds for Flood Affected Areas, From November end to March 2022 (at the end of polling), Antyodaya card holders will get 5 kg rice/wheat, 1 kg pulse, 1 liter mustard oil, salt and sugar. As schools reopened this month, Rs 1,100 was directly transferred to the bank accounts of the underprivileged to buy school gear.
Punjab
Dolls are the way to go in Punjab, or at least “competitive freebies” as Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi faces a face-off with AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal.
Channi has promised free gifts worth Rs 15,000 crore.
Often on the receiving end of opposition parties’ backlash for announcing “free gifts” in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party is not far behind in Punjab either. Kejriwal has attempted to woo women voters and promised to transfer Rs 1,000 per month to every woman who is 18 years of age or above. AAP has also promised free coaching, free education for IAS, medical and IITs, free foreign education for students belonging to SC.
Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal has also to some extent imitated the AAP and promised Rs 2,000 to each woman with a blue card.
Goa
In Goa too, AAP supremo Kejriwal started the practice of freebies. The party has promised five pre-poll guarantees, including free electricity, employment and pilgrimage. He has promised free electricity of 300 units of electricity for domestic connections, jobs in every household and unemployment allowance to youth, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Ajmer Sharif Dargah and free pilgrimage for Hindus, Muslims and Christians in Vellankani.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant jumped on the bandwagon after earlier ridiculing Kejriwal, promising 16,000 liters of water free to domestic consumers. Sawant tried to run a budgetary plan announced by Kejriwal this year. The scheme, which was buried in the details of massive budget announcements, offers senior citizens free pilgrimage to temples across the state.
Meanwhile, TMC has given several freebies especially for those associated with the fisheries sector. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s key promises include a monthly allowance of Rs 4,000 for those working in the sector, a 2.5-fold increase in the existing fuel subsidy.
Though the Congress has so far shied away from the race for freebies, Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat claimed that such assurances are nothing but “pre-poll gimmicks”.
Uttarakhand
In Uttarakhand too, Kejriwal has promised a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to all adult women and Rs 5,000 to all unemployed youth if AAP comes to power. He reiterated his promise of providing employment to the youth and resolved to convert Kashipur, Ranikhet, Roorkee, Didihat, Yamunotri and Kotdwar into districts within a month of coming to power.
“Whether free electricity, free pilgrimage, jobs for youth or monthly allowance for women, I guarantee every promise I make. Throw us out of power, if we don’t fulfill them,” Kejriwal said.
(with PTI inputs)
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