BJP’s last manifesto: High on tall promises, low on delivery of services

BJP’s last manifesto: High on tall promises, low on delivery of services 


With municipal elections just a month away, the BJP, which rules the MCD, has not been able to fulfill many of its promises made in the last elections held in 2007. These promises include the assurance to provide door-to-door collection of garbage among others.

The party has realised that 

of the several promises it made in its manifesto — such as provision for multi-purpose identity cards or giving water and electricity rebates to slum dwellers — many do not even come under the MCD duties.

The BJP manifesto for 2007 had 23 important promises, including the stopping of sealing of properties in the city.

The discretionary powers of the councillors and officers, which were being misused, would be abolished, it had promised. The manifesto also said that it’ll put a machinery to punish corrupt persons in place.

The leader of the opposition in the MCD, Jai Kishan Sharma, said that many of the promises made in the BJP manifesto come under the Delhi government’s jurisdiction and that it was strange that the BJP used them to woo voters.

“Apart from its inability to stop sealing of properties in the city, the MCD has not been able to provide enough public conveniences. Most of the toilet blocks in the city have turned into garbage dumps,” Sharma said.

Those duties that do come under it have also remained unfulfilled. These include the promise for a garbage-free city, construction of community centres and construction of low-cost dispensaries in each ward.

The list of BJP’s promises also included the provision to give 25 yard plots or flats to people living in jhuggis, beautification of the Yamuna riverfront and the introduction of yoga and sports in schools.

Talking about it, BJP leader of the House, Subhash Arya said they have tried to fulfill as many promises as possible. “We had to stop work on the issue of identity cards because the Central government had already come up with the Adhar scheme,” he said.

State BJP president Vijender Gupta said in the past five years, MCD had done a lot in improving the city such as providing better sanitation services and coming up with new projects for the betterment of the city. “The waste-to-energy projects that will sort out garbage problems have been a major achievement,” he added.

On the issue of schools, a BJP leader said that despite repeated requests to Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB), special teachers are not being provided which is why the agency has failed to introduce sports in schools.

Source: Hindustan Times