With just three days left for the polling day, the Chandigarh BJP unit, on Thursday, released its election manifesto, in haste.
The BJP’s manifesto repeated several promises made by the saffron party in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
The manifesto, which was released by BJP’s candidate and outgoing MP Kirron Kher and city party chief Sanjay Tandon promised to complete several development projects for Chandigarh.
Some of these promises included Mono-rail project for Chandigarh, regularization of changes to the houses, one time settlement of all issues related to Chandigarh Housing Board houses, ensuring 24 hours water supply, preference to Chandigarh residents for jobs in Chandigarh, resolving all parking problems, implementation of 6th pay commission, a dispensary in every ward, bringing all dispensaries under one management, beautification of all markets in the union territory, allowing first floor on booths, and approving box type structure for SCF.
Apart from this, the party promised that Chandigarh will be developed as a tourism hub education hub and IT hub, providing free wi-fi in all markets of UT, removing dumping grounds from Daddumajra, getting electricity wires underground, increase in number of houses allotted to the journalists, providing insurance and pension scheme for senior journalists, construction of a convention centre, fill all vacant government posts, allotting deadlines to all projects, and rationalising the cost of houses for government employees.
Interestingly, many promises made in 2014 Lok Sabha elections manifesto including making the city a tourism hub, preference to Chandigarh residents for jobs here, addressing traffic congestion and parking woes among others, have made it to the BJP’s manifesto again in 2019 general elections.
When asked whether the poll promises made by the BJP in the last general elections 2014 have been fulfilled, Chandigarh BJP chief Sanjay Tandon said that we gave 100 percent in terms of intent of fulfilling these promises. As far as execution and implementation is concerned, there are certain things which were partially implemented, he said.
Tandon said there were some legal matters and files related to projects were stuck. But now, we are more experienced, Kirron ji is also more experienced and we promise to complete the development projects here, he said.
Kher, who is seeking re-election for a second term said, “I have tried my best to address the grievances of citizens. I will continue to do so, if elected once again.”
Kher is locked in a triangular contest against Congress’ Pawan Kumar Bansal and Aam Aadmi Party’s Harmohan Dhawan in Chandigarh.
The Congress had released its election manifesto on May 8 promising to restore the cleanliness and pollution-free environment of the city, community parking, women safety, starting the metro project to solve the problem of traffic congestion and shun VIP culture here.