Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 13:09:21
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.10 1.47%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,455.70 1.04%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 276.90 2.16%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 429.85 0.43%
  1. State Bank Of India share price
  2. 751.95 2.44%
Business News/ Politics / Policy/  BJP’s manifesto may focus on new jobs, cities
BackBack

BJP’s manifesto may focus on new jobs, cities

The BJP has put jobs and urbanization at the centre of its policy pitch, two party sources told 'Reuters'

Photo: Premium
Photo:

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would aim to create 250 million jobs over the next 10 years as part of an economic development programme that could create 100 new “smart" cities, its election manifesto will say.

The BJP has put jobs and urbanization at the centre of its policy pitch as it seeks to oust the Congress-led government in a general election starting on 7 April, two party sources told Reuters.

“The manifesto’s priorities, in this order, are jobs, investment, manufacturing and infrastructure," said one party official involved in drafting the document, which is expected to be released next week.

The BJP, on course to win the largest number of seats in the five-week election, wants to tap into the aspirations of young people in a country where more than half of the population is under the age of 25.

By contrast, the Congress, which was due to unveil its own election manifesto on Wednesday, is running campaign ads that depict smiling artisans making bricks or weaving by hand—an appeal to its core constituency of poor voters.

The BJP’s candidate for prime minister, Narendra Modi, is also campaigning on his record of economic development running Gujarat which on many metrics has performed better than the national average over the past decade.

In other points, the BJP will propose introducing a national general sales tax—seen as key to getting rid of a hodge-podge of existing levies to make tax collection more effective—and streamlining subsidies, a second source said.

But the party is cautious about opening up so-called “multi-brand" retail to foreign direct investors such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Tesco, as this could pose an existential threat to millions of small traders that constitute a big voter constituency.

“The domestic retail industry needs to be first made competitive before allowing foreign investment," the second source said. Reuters

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Politics News and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 26 Mar 2014, 12:48 PM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App