Ahead of the Municipal Corporation Elections, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday released his party’s manifesto in Rohtak in the presence of senior party leaders, promising a 25 per cent rebate on residential tax for women homeowners in towns. The BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ also pledged to install at least one ‘pink toilet’ with sanitary napkin vending machines in every market.

The elections for 33 municipal bodies, including eight municipal corporations, are scheduled for March 2. These will include elections for four municipal councils and 21 municipal committees. Additionally, bypolls will be held for the mayor’s position in the Ambala and Sonipat municipal corporations, as well as for three presidents and three members of municipal committees and councils. Gurgaon, Faridabad, Manesar, Hisar, Karnal, Rohtak, Panipat, and Yamunanagar are the eight municipal corporations going to polls in Haryana.

In its manifesto, the BJP also announced that house tax would be simplified for villages that have come under the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporations. The party also promises special tax relief for houses built on agricultural land. The BJP manifesto states that charges for sewerage and water connections will be waived.  There will be smart streets, oxygen parks, and open gyms in the parks. Additionally, the manifesto promises to install machines to dispose of green waste in these parks. The BJP has announced plans to operate electric buses through a public-private partnership model to create a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation system. Also, the BJP has committed to doubling the streetlights in each municipal ward. Free solar panels will be provided to families with an annual income of up to Rs 1 lakh. Multi Level parking, provision of additional sanitation workers, and modern libraries are promises of the BJP for tier-2 and tier-3 cities. The manifesto also promises to grant ownership rights and provide registration to people living on a piece of land in urban or rural areas for the past 20 years.

Congress promises ‘Green Cities, Clean Cities’

With an eye on reclaiming its lost ground in the State, Haryana Congress launched its civic poll manifesto under the slogan “Green Cities, Clean Cities”. Senior party leader and former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda released the manifesto in Gurugram. The Congress promised to establish a modern library in every ward, complete with Wi-Fi access. It also commits to planning pollution-free cities and improving garbage disposal management in urban areas. It also promises to provide more public toilets, especially for women, and improve traffic management in towns. The Congress runs for the municipal corporation elections under the slogan “Green City, Clean City”. Like the ruling BJP, the Congress also contests the upcoming polls on the party symbol. Despite internal differences within the Congress, senior leaders appeared united at the event. Hooda was joined on stage by Haryana Congress president Udai Bhan, former ministers Capt Ajay Singh Yadav and Geeta Bhukkal, as well as party incharge Karan Dalal. The leaders stressed that internal debates would not hinder the party’s commitment to winning the civic elections.