Haryana polls: BJP releases manifesto; focus on farmers, corruption

Ahead of Haryana assembly elections on October 21, BJP has released its manifesto for the state on Sunday. The manifesto was released in the presence of Chief Minister of the state Manohar Lal Khattar, National working president of BJP JP Nadda and other leaders at Hotel Lalit in Chandigarh. The manifesto is titled 'Mhare Sapne Ka Haryana' or 'My dreams of Haryana'. The party has promised an increase in farmer's income and zero tolerance to corruption.

Speaking at the event, CM Khattar said: "The BJP's manifesto is based on the principles of Ram Rajya. We had given a transparent administration and zero tolerance towards corruption in our previous manifesto."

As per reports, the party had divided the state into 2,000 categories and has sought suggestions for the manifesto. Reportedly, it received about 1.70 lakh suggestions for the manifesto from across the state. Later, the committee constituted under the leadership of Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankhar selected 200 suggestions and included them in the manifesto. Congress had already released its manifesto on Friday, making promises like the farm loan waiver, unemployment allowance for graduates and post-graduates, free rides for women in Haryana Roadways, etc.

READ: Shiv Sena releases manifesto for upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls

BJP in Haryana 

In a big boost to BJP who is currently in power in the state of Haryana, under Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Olympic wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt and former Indian Hockey captain Sandeep Singh joined the saffron party on September 26. Earlier on August 12, wrestler Babita Phogat and her father Mahavir Phogat joined BJP in presence of Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Kiren Rijiju. Both Dutt and Phogat have got the party ticket to contest the state polls. However, Khattar has also faced waves of anti-incumbency in the state.

READ: BJP leader asks Scindia to quit Congress over loan waiver admission

Congress in Haryana 

In a massive setback to the Congress party ahead of assembly polls in Haryana, its former state chief Ashok Tanwar resigned from the party on Saturday. Even as the Congress party named its former Haryana chief as a star campaigner for the upcoming assembly polls, he resigned saying that Congress party is going through an 'existential crisis' because of the 'internal contradictions' in the party. There has been infighting within the Congress in the poll-bound states of Maharashtra and Haryana. While in Haryana there has been a divide, with one group supporting Bhupinder Singh Hooda and the other Ashok Tanwar, in Maharashtra, former Mumbai chief of the party Sanjay Nirupam has revolted openly against the party. 

READ: Haryana polls: Ashok Tanwar quits Congress, exposes internal 'lobbies'

Haryana state elections

The Election Commission on September 21 announced the dates for the upcoming Assembly polls for Haryana and Maharashtra. Polling on the 90 seats of Haryana will take place on October 21 and counting will take place on October 24. The term of Haryana assembly expires on November 2. Below is the detailed schedule of the upcoming elections: 

• Gazette Notification to be issued: September 27
   
• Last date of nominations: October 4
   
• Date for Scrutiny of Nomination - October 5
   
• Last Date for Withdrawal of Candidatures - October 7
   
• Polling on all 90 seats: October 21
   
• Results of the elections: October 24
   
• Conclusion of elections: October 27

READ: BJP releases list of 40 star campaigners for upcoming Haryana polls