Grand alliance has released its ‘promissory note’ for Bihar elections. The main promises include withdrawal of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), increasing social security pension to ₹3000 and reviving the mandi system for farmers.
The Grand Alliance has today released its official manifesto for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Tejashwi Yadav, who has been declared the chief ministerial face of the alliance, made it public along with prominent leaders of all the constituent parties. This manifesto has been named ‘Tejashwi’s Pledge Letter’.
Targeted at NDA: ‘Lack of vision’
On the occasion of releasing the manifesto, VIP chief Mukesh Sahni launched a scathing attack on the NDA alliance. He said, “We have kept a resolution letter. We have to live among the people in Bihar for 30 to 35 years. This resolution letter will lay the foundation of a new Bihar.” Sahni sarcastically said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) does not have any manifesto. He feels that Bihar is very prosperous, that is why he is not releasing his manifesto, whereas the public now wants change.
Major promises of the manifesto
This manifesto of the Grand Alliance mainly focuses on three big issues: government employees, farmers and social security.
1. Withdrawal of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS): Senior CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya made a big promise related to government employees. He said that after the formation of the government, the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) will be brought for the government employees. This can be a big attraction for government employed people.
2. Huge increase in social security pension: Emphasizing on social security, Bhattacharya announced that after the formation of the government, the social security pension of the elderly will be increased to ₹3000. At present this amount is quite less.
3. Reviving the market system: It has also been said in this resolution letter to start the market system for the farmers, the objective of which is to provide fair price to the farmers for their produce.
Not just a declaration, it’s a promise
Senior Congress leader Pawan Kheda stressed the commitment of the Grand Alliance. He said that first of all the Grand Alliance has released its manifesto, which shows that our vision is clear. He clarified, “We have not only a declaration but also a pledge letter. We will implement it as soon as the Grand Alliance government is formed.”
Dipankar Bhattacharya also assured that whatever has been promised in the manifesto will be fulfilled under all circumstances. Through this ‘pledge letter’, Tejashwi Yadav has tried to give an alternative and development-centric roadmap to the people of Bihar by keeping unemployment, inflation and farmers’ problems at the center.