BJP woos MP with 10 lakh jobs a year

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 17

Facing strong 15-year anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh, the BJP today announced a slew of promises, including 10 lakh jobs per year and start-up opportunities for youth, in its manifesto for the November 28 elections.

In power in the state since 2003, the BJP is pushing hard to retain power amid allegations of corruption and unemployment. Last year, the state witnessed widespread protests by farmers for better minimum support price (MSP) and other demands.

Released by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the ‘drishti patra’ (vision document) promises 10 lakh jobs and self-employment opportunities for youth. It also promises higher transparency, better governance and education facilities, improved women safety and empowerment, infrastructure development, more income and support to farmers, modernised health facilities and financial support to poor students and women, ‘gaushalas’ with modern amenities and promotion of Indian-breed cows.

It also promises development and improvement of religious places along the Shipra river and new heritage sites, a merchant welfare fund, Narmada expressway and Chambal expressway to ease transportation and a separate industrial corridor in the state.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is facing strong anti-incumbency, the signs of which became visible by the way his wife Sadhna Singh encountered strong criticism from the electorate recently. Angry voters confronted her while she was campaigning door to door in her husband’s constituency Budhni.