With just four days left for polling, the BJP released its manifesto for the Maharashtra Assembly elections on Friday, steering clear of the contentious issue of a separate Vidarbha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his rallies, asserted that Maharashtra would not be divided till he remained in power.
Political observers are divided if the ambiguity over Vidarbha would hurt the BJP in the region. Pro-Vidarbha groups have expressed disappointment over the party’s stance as with the BJP’s split with the Sena they had expected a positive step from the BJP. The Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena are opposed to any division of the State.
Releasing the vision document at the party State headquarters here, BJP vice-president Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and spokesperson Madhav Bhandari said this should not be considered the last word on Vidarbha.
“This is a vision document for [only] the next five years. Many aspects have been excluded from it. It doesn’t mean they cannot be implemented in the coming years,” Mr. Bhandari said, reiterating that the party’s stand on smaller States was not compromised.
The manifesto extended support for Maratha reservation, while also supporting quota for the Dhangars, and without affecting the current quota of tribal communities.
Reaching out to Muslims, the BJP said that land belonging to the Wakf board would be “recovered from unlawful intruders and returned to the board.”
Taking cue from Mr. Modi’s ‘Make in India’ project, the BJP promised an initiative called ‘Made in Maharashtra’ to boost the manufacturing sector.
The party said it would develop two SEZs for the benefit of the cotton textile industry in Marathwada and Vidarbha. The farmers were assured of a pension scheme.
The BJP promised a grand memorial for Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea and said it would ensure within five years the completion of a national memorial for Babasaheb Ambedkar. Besides, the manifesto promised 10 smart cities in the State and detailed plans for economic and commercial hubs in Mumbai.
