Home News New Delhi Business Elections 2014 Supplements Sports T20 World Cup Entertainment Videos Opinion Jobs Modi begins road-show before filing of nomination in Vadodara Archie will be killed off in upcoming comic book 23 killed, 40 injured in Pakistan blast Flight MH370: Search teams receive signals again Umar gets dragged in another controversy PCB issues show cause notice to Afridi Violence in Kanpur over procession route injures many Voting begins in Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland Decommissioned INS Vikrant sold for Rs 60 crore SpiceJets special fares for South Two ultras, three security men killed in Kupwara gunfight Three-way contest unfolds in Kerala capital Modi slams Antony on defence system setbacks Poll officials trek hours to register two Arunachali votes Spouses of H-1B visa holders may get to work Mamata buckles under EC pressure Campaigning ends for first major phase of polling BJP suffers setback as two leaders join SP Auto drivers slap leaves Kejriwal with swollen eye I am not going to vote for any party Explosive night beckons Europe Mahela, Sanga hit out at SLC officials Diamonds and Peles hair are forever! Adebayor brace propels Tottenham Bilbao edge out Levante Pakistan claims 32 world records, sparks controversy Three israeli diplomats repatriated No ban on selfies with Obama: White House First Mars settlers to devour grasshoppers? Mamata relents; agrees to EC directive on transfer of officers Brett Lee ties knot with girlfriend Lana Anderson Paresh Rawal tops the list of richest candidates in Gujarat Active India Facebook users cross 100 mn, largest outside US Ram temple is BJP issue, not NDAs: Paswan Despite repeated attacks, Kejriwal refuses security EC toughens stand, gives ultimatum to WB on transfers Petrol pumps to offer 50 p/litre discount to voters on Apr 10 BJP removes Modis posters in Vadodara Corruption and loot in Congress DNA: Modi CPI moves EC against pro-Modi WhatsApp msg,calls them communal New York Mayor supports NYPD officer arrested in India Kejriwal slapped again, second attack in last four days Cong pitches Ajai Rai against Modi in Varanasi AAP wants to strike a deal with largest party: Expelled member Mamata accuses poll panel of bias Pay Rs 500 to restore phones disconnected for pesky calls: Trai WB govt writes to EC urging it to reconsider transfer order Kejriwal punched during Delhi campaign US plans to allow spouse of H1B visa holder to work in America Nigerians scuffle with villagers in Greater Noida Mizoram election deferred IT honchos bet big on Nilekani, Bala driving change BSP leader in UP found with Rs 4 crore cash, booked Actors, ex-army chief, top cop raise stakes in UP Muzaffarnagar riots, gangrape victims to cast their vote Cop seen pleading for life in video is alive, says CRPF AAP candidate against Sonia Gandhi withdraws candidature 150 killed in Nigeria attacks Russia faces costs if it destabilises Ukraine: Kerry Rupee upside capped at 57-58 against the $ Storms leave thousands homeless in Uganda Americans facing competition from India, China: Obama Sonia Gandhi declines to show US court her passport You are here: Home » First Edit » Lacks clarity Lacks clarity April 9, 2014, DHNS: Election manifestos are not often taken seriously by people. Parties once used to be judged by the policies and promises offered in their manifestos. But the gap between promises and practice has increased so much in the past that people are now cynical about them. However, they still give an idea of the thinking in parties on many issues and serve as statements of intent. The intent may depend on the electoral demands on the parties and related compulsions, which may change once they come to power. No one will consider the BJP’s manifesto also as containing commandments which will be followed religiously if the party comes to power. It is doubtful if the entire party itself was agreed on all the ideas in the manifesto and on the way they were put forward. That is clear from the delay in finalising and releasing the document, which saw the light of day only on the first day of polling in the country. Many of the promises made in the manifesto are not new. Increasing the growth rate, containing price rise and boosting employment, improving infrastructure, strengthening national security and restoring the country’s position in the international community are all expected promises from the main national opposition party, especially because the ruling government failed on most of these counts. But the details of policies which will help accomplish these objectives are not very clear in the document. There are contradictions also. While the BJP is agreeable to foreign direct investment in all sectors, it is against FDI in retail. There is no reason why FDI is bad only in retail, except that the BJP has a following among small traders in the north. That should not influence national policy priorities. It will also send a message of policy inconsistency about the country to investors and others. Accepted national policies, backed by parliament sanction, should not be thrown out on the basis of narrow considerations. There is a greater emphasis on issues related to governance than on policies as such because the UPA government’s biggest failure was in this area. Some of the BJP’s core concerns like the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, uniform civil code and abrogation of Article 370 have been moved to the background or presented in different terms. But the fact remains that the party cannot disavow them too. In many ways, there is more of Modi’s mind than the party’s heart in the manifesto.
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 06:42:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015