Chandigarh MC polls: BJP manifesto takes a leaf from MP Kirron Kher’s poll promises - Hindustan Times
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Chandigarh MC polls: BJP manifesto takes a leaf from MP Kirron Kher’s poll promises

Hindustan Times | By, Chandigarh
Dec 11, 2016 01:06 PM IST

The manifesto released by the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiromani Akali Dal combine on Saturday, just a week before the city goes to municipal corporation (MC) polls, harps largely on the issues taken up by city MP Kirron Kher with the Centre and the UT administration in the past two-and-a-half years.

The manifesto released by the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiromani Akali Dal combine on Saturday, just a week before the city goes to municipal corporation (MC) polls, harps largely on the issues taken up by city MP Kirron Kher with the Centre and the UT administration in the past two-and-a-half years.

(From Right) BJP leader Harmohan Dhawan, city unit chief Sanjay Tondon, MP Kiron Kher and ex-MP Satya Pal jain releasing the BJP-SAD manifesto for MC polls in Chandigarh.(HT Photo)
(From Right) BJP leader Harmohan Dhawan, city unit chief Sanjay Tondon, MP Kiron Kher and ex-MP Satya Pal jain releasing the BJP-SAD manifesto for MC polls in Chandigarh.(HT Photo)

Out of the listed promises in the manifesto, which the party describes as a vision document, only 30% issues come directly under the MC’s preview. The document promises conversion of residential property from leasehold to freehold, employment opportunities and an affordable housing scheme-- the initiatives Kher has been working upon. Some of these were also listed in the MP’s manifesto when she contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. In what can be termed as a complete change from the past, the manifesto did not talk only about civic issues, but the holistic development of the city from health, education, transport to housing issues.

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PARTY PUTS UP UNITED FRONT

Putting up a united front, all the senior leaders of the party were present during the release of the manifesto at the party office in Sector 33 here. Kirron Kher, veteran party leaders and former MPs Satya Pal Jain and Harmohan Dhawan came along with city unit party chief Sanjay Tandon.

Tandon said the BJP has always given priority to welfare of the people and the document brings out the vision of the party, which takes a holistic view of overall development of the city.

Commenting on the impact of demonetisation on MC elections, he said, “The central government is trying its best to reduce the difficulties faced by the common man, but everyone in the system understands that for a massive clean-up, some days of difficulty is unavoidable. The intelligent people of Chandigarh will not fall into the trap of misinformation laid by the opposition parties.”

The major achievements highlighted included increased age limit for entry into government service in Chandigarh from 25 years to 37 years, need-based changes allowed by the Chandigarh Housing Board, increase in MBBS seats at GMCH32 from 50 to 100, PNG gas pipe, new buses by CTU, an over bridge at the Tribune roundabout to decongest traffic. Interestingly, all these can be attributed to the MP.

The MC’s achievements included initiating work for laying pipeline for 24-water supply, 20 new tubewells, garbage bins worth Rs 1 crore installed across the city, public toilets constructed to make city open defecation free, cleaning of roads through road-sweeping machines and inauguration of green belts.

In the vision document, some of the promises made are projects already being initiated by the UT administration such as underground electrical wiring, intelligent traffic light system, Sector 16 GMSH to be upgraded by setting up an ICU and a new fleet of buses for CTU.

Past ten months vs past 14 years

The vision document and the manifesto achievements, carrying pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP national chief Amit Shah, senior local BJP leaders, give a comparative account of work done in the past ten months, under BJP mayor, versus the past 14 years. They also have pictures of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.

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