BJP’s manifesto for Karnataka promises Uniform Civil Code, NRC, free ration

Bengaluru: Implementation of the Uniform Civil Code, the introduction of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to oust all illegal immigrants, 10 lakh jobs in the manufacturing sector, free ration for households below the poverty line, and a fixed deposit scheme for women from SC and ST communities are the key promises made by the BJP in its manifesto for the Assembly elections in Karnataka.

Karnataka is one of the states that has witnessed deep-rooted communal polarization over a number of issues, including the hijab ban, the Anti-Conversion Act, and the rescission of 4% reserved for the Muslim community in recent years. The incumbent party is said to be pulling out all the stops, fearing losing ground over issues of unemployability, skyrocketing prices of essential goods, and corruption charges against its leaders.

On April 30, 2023, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched its vision document for the state of Karnataka, called the BJP Praja Pranalike, in Bengaluru. The document was unveiled by the party's national president, JP Nadda, in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai and veteran party leader BS Yediyurappa, among others. During a press conference, Mr Nadda stated that the BJP's vision for the state was to provide "justice to all, appeasement to none."

This election cycle, the BJP faces a challenging battle for votes in the state, and it has promised that its manifesto will touch every section of society. Among its pledges, the party has committed to implementing a Uniform Civil Code in the state "based on the recommendations of a high-level committee that will be set up for this purpose." The party has also pledged to introduce the National Register of Citizens and "expedite the deportation of all illegal migrants."

Other promises made by the party include monthly ration kits for households below the poverty line, a fixed deposit scheme for women from scheduled castes and tribes, and a plan to develop Karnataka into a hub for electric vehicles. The party has also promised to provide three free cooking gas cylinders to BPL families annually - one each during the months of Yugadi, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Deepavali.

The Congress party, which is also competing for victory, has yet to release its manifesto. During the campaign, the opposition party has pledged 200 units of free power to all homes, 10 kg of rice to BPL households, ₹ 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family, and a monthly allowance of ₹ 3,000 to unemployed graduates.

The Janata Dal (Secular), the other party expected to compete in the three-way poll fight, has pledged to introduce legislation providing reservations for Kannadigas in the private sector. The party has also stated that it will urge the central government to hold civil services and defence recruitment exams in Kannada.

The BJP's manifesto promises to improve the "ease of living" for apartment residents in Bengaluru through a consultative committee. It has pledged to launch an initiative to promote collaboration between small and medium-sized industries and industrial training institutes. At the school level, the BJP has promised a plan in which the state government will partner with eminent individuals and institutions to upgrade state-run schools.

The manifesto also promises to enhance public healthcare infrastructure by establishing a clinic with diagnostic facilities in every municipal ward and providing senior citizens with a free annual health check-up. For farmers, the party has pledged a ₹ 30,000 crore fund to set up micro cold storage facilities, agro-processing units in every gram panchayat, and modernise agricultural produce committees.

In the tourism sector, the manifesto promises a ₹ 1,500 crore plan to develop several circuits and corridors to transform Karnataka into the country's top tourism hub. The party has also promised to identify 10 lakh housing sites for the homeless.