Delhi Elections: BJP Manifesto Promises Rs 2,500 A Month For Women, Rs 500 Subsidy On LPG Cylinders
BJP has also pledged Rs 21,000 financial aid for pregnant women in Delhi, promising to implement the scheme under Mahila Samridhi Yojna if it wins the 2025 elections.
Months after it swept to power in Maharashtra amid the popularity of Rs 1,500 monthly aid for women, the Bharatiya Janata Party has promised a similar scheme in Delhi. In the manifesto for the assembly elections released on Friday, the BJP promised up to Rs 2,500 aid for women under the Mahila Samridhi Yojna.
"We promise to roll out the scheme in first cabinet meeting after coming to power," BJP president JP Nadda said, while releasing the manifesto.
The saffron party has also promised a subsidy of Rs 500 on LPG gas cylinders, and one additional cylinder each on the festive occasions of Holi and Diwali.
Notably, the BJP is seen as the prime challenger to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, which has been heading the government in Delhi for the last 10 years.
The BJP manifesto also promises a financial assistance of Rs 21,000 for pregnant women in Delhi if it wins the upcoming assembly elections.
The announcements made by Nadda are part of the first phase of BJP's manifesto or 'Sankalp Patra'. The second and third phases of the manifesto will be released in the coming days.
Women Voters In Focus
BJP's promise of Rs 2,500 monthly aid for women is seen as a counter to the ruling AAP's promise to provide Rs 2,100 monthly aid for women if it returns to power.
The AAP government, headed by Chief Minister Atishi, gave nod to the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojana for Rs 1,000 monthly aid to women in December. The party, headed by former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, has promised to raise the amount of aid to Rs 2,100 if it wins the election.
Meanwhile, the Congress has also promised a monthly aid of Rs 2,500 for women if it returns to power in the national capital. The grand old party had led the government in Delhi for 15 straight years between 1998 and 2013. However, it faced a rout in the last two assembly elections, failing to open its account.
In the last elections held in February 2020, the AAP retained power with a brute mandate, winning 62 out of the 70 seats. This was only marginally lower as compared to the 67 seats it won in 2015. The BJP, on other hand, marginally improved its tally from three to eight seats.
