AAP promises free water, power, Mohalla clinics in BMC polls
In its manifesto for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has, among other things, promised Mumbaikars 24x7 clean drinking water, free pipeline water up to 20,000 litres per household per month, 200-unit free power, free BEST bus passes to all students and 1,000 Mohalla clinics.
The AAP is contesting all 227 seats in the January 15, 2025, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls — nominations for which closed on Tuesday.
Building on the governance model in Delhi and Punjab, the AAP on Tuesday unveiled its “transformative agenda” under the banner of ‘Kejriwalchi Guarantee’ for Mumbaikars.
Releasing the AAP’s ‘Kejriwalchi Guarantee’ manifesto for the BMC polls, Delhi’s former chief Minister Atishi said: “Mumbai, despite its enormous wealth, has become the ugly, dirty, and unsafe face of urbanisation. The BMC, with a budget of over Rs 75,000 crores, has delivered only monumental corruption and substandard services. Our manifesto is not just an alternative. It is a concrete plan to restore Mumbai’s dignity and potential.” Describing the manifesto as a concrete and actionable plan, Atishi exhorted Mumbaikars to vote for honest governance and appealed to voters to support AAP’s broom symbol for a decisive mandate in the civic polls. AAP Mumbai president Preeti Sharma Menon said the party was contesting the elections on the plank of Kaam Ki Rajneeti (politics of work), in contrast to what she described as confusing and opportunistic alliances among established parties.
Maintaining that voters were often unclear about political alliances across corporations, Preeti claimed that AAP was offering Mumbai a clear and honest alternative. Menon added that the party had fielded educated and young candidates with proven records of public service.
“We are asking Mumbaikars to vote for the greater good, for their own enlightened self-interest, and make a clean sweep with the broom,” AAP Mumbai president Preeti Sharma Menon said.
Apart from guaranteeing Mumbaikars 24x7 clean drinking water and free pipeline water up to 20,000 litres per household per month, the AAP has promised a complete overhaul of the water system, including a leak-control plan and 100 per cent sewage treatment.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led party has promised to revolutionize BMC schools with modern infrastructure, allocating Rs 1 crore per school, providing free BEST bus passes to all students, and installing sanitary napkin vending machines in every school.
The AAP has promised to establish 1000 neighbourhood Mohalla Clinics offering free consultations, medicines, and tests, creating a robust three-tier healthcare system.
The AAP said that it would provide free electricity up to 200 units per family through BEST, with free meter installations and a shift towards decentralized solar power.
It has assured revival of BEST with a minimum fleet strength of 10,000 electric buses, free transport for women and students, and the creation of pothole-free roads in Mumbai through a scientific “Zero Pothole” system.
Under the agenda of Housing for All, it will reimagine BMC colonies to deliver affordable rental housing, ensure in-situ rehabilitation, and use cost-effective Pre-Engineered Buildings (PEBs).
