In the grand spectacle of Madhya Pradesh’s upcoming elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken centre stage with a manifesto that seems to have borrowed elements from a financial comedy and a theatrical production. With promises of freebies, subsidies, and extravagant Hindutva endeavors, the BJP’s Sankalp Patra is nothing short of a rollercoaster ride through the fiscal absurdity and the theatrics of governance. Not just financial but religious doles are there in BJP’s kitty. The Home Minister Amit Shah, promised free darshan of Ramlala for Madhya Pradesh voters, if BJP is elected again.
Elect BJP and get free darshan of Ramlala in #Ayodhya: #AmitShah in MP
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) November 13, 2023
(Reports Ranjan)#MadhyaPradeshElections2023 #ElectionsWithHT https://t.co/Bh4jdWkV1B pic.twitter.com/TpwnzEDf8q
The Freebie Fiesta:
The BJP’s announcement to provide free ration, subsidized pulses, mustard oil, and sugar to poor families is akin to a generous host inviting everyone to an economic feast. Not stopping there, the party pledged free education up to class 12 for economically backward students, further, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, not to be outdone, entered the stage with a spree of announcements that included increased wages and allowances for junior-level employees. From raising Anganwadi workers’ pay to promising e-scooters and laptops for meritorious students, the BJP’s generosity seems boundless.
However the list is never ending the Ladli Behena Yojana, a much-hyped cash-in-hand scheme for women started by Shivraj Singh Chouhan is also amongst the famous financial favours, on the other hand to compete the Congress has already announced its Nari Samman Yojana with Rs 1500 every month. After the Congress announcement, Chouhan increased the Ladli Behena scheme amount from Rs 1000 to Rs 1500. Additionally, he has promised to take it up to Rs 3000.
Where’s the Money Coming From?
The real punchline in this comedy of financial errors lies in the question: Where does all this money come from? With a budget size of Rs 3.14 lakh crore and a staggering debt of over Rs 3.50 lakh crore, Madhya Pradesh resembles a magician pulling endless rabbits out of a hat. The state’s financial health, already in jeopardy with a loan of almost Rs 10,000 crore in the last six months, is now being pushed to the brink by the BJP’s financial wizardry.
Double Standards on Display:
While Madhya Pradesh revels in the freebie fiesta, other states like Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh witness a more restrained BJP, at least on the surface. The double standards in the party’s approach are glaring – free LPG cylinders, financial assistance for pregnant women, and empowering measures are touted as essentials in some states, while in Madhya Pradesh, it’s a carnival of promises and budgetary acrobatics. This raises many questions;
- While BJP calls other parties out on freebies and named them as Revdi, then how come BJP is justifying their manifesto in Madhya Pradesh?
- Why other state citizens can’t get a free Darshan at Ramlala temple in Ayodhya?
- Can Ramlala temple be used as a political promise?
- Should other states parties promise something similar using other big temples in the country?
Congratulations to @BJP4Himachal for coming out with the ‘Stree Sankalp Patra’ which further strengthens the objectives of women empowerment & women-led development in the state, as envisioned by Hon’ble @PMOIndia Shri @narendramodi.https://t.co/uuEahPzdKq pic.twitter.com/lg1u9siCtd
— Nirmala Sitharaman (@nsitharaman) November 7, 2022
Competing Over Freebies:
As the BJP and Congress engage in a contest of who can promise more, the financial stress on the state becomes increasingly evident. Both parties seem oblivious to the economic realities, splurging taxpayers’ money in a race to win votes. With the state’s debt rising and limited revenue sources, the financial discipline needed for the coming years seems like a punchline lost in the laughter of political one-upmanship.
Extravagant Shows of Hindutva:
Adding to the comedic script, the BJP’s extravagant displays of Hindutva are like over-the-top scenes in a Bollywood blockbuster. From allocating funds for temple expansions to announcing projects like the ‘Statue of Oneness,’ the state’s finances are being stretched thin to accommodate the theatrics of religious fervour.
Madhya Pradesh’s political stage is set for a grand comedy where freebies, financial errors, and extravagant shows of Hindutva take center stage. As voters brace themselves for the punchlines, the real question remains: Can the state afford this carnival, or is it a financial comedy that will leave Madhya Pradesh facing the consequences long after the laughter fades? Only time will tell if this political drama results in a standing ovation or a financial flop.