Kolkata, April 10 The BJP on Friday unveiled its manifesto for the West Bengal Assembly polls, promising to tackle infiltration, implement a Uniform Civil Code, and provide extensive welfare packages for women, youth, farmers, and state government employees if the party wins.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, releasing the manifesto – 'Sankalp Patra' – here, described it as a roadmap for "Sonar Bangla" and launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee government, alleging that the TMC's 15-year rule had been a "nightmare" for the state's people.
"Bengal, tired of the TMC, now wants change," he said, framing the election as a referendum on corruption, political violence, infiltration, and unemployment.
A key element of the manifesto was the BJP's declaration that a BJP government would adopt a "detect, delete, and deport" policy for infiltrators. "Our BJP government in Bengal will have a zero-tolerance policy towards infiltration."
The party promised to secure the state's borders, stop cattle smuggling, and clear government land of "encroachers and infiltrators," highlighting the BJP's focus on the border belt spanning North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Malda, Murshidabad, and North Bengal.
This promise is expected to resonate with sections of Matua and refugee Hindu voters – a key constituency that the BJP has cultivated for years through the Citizenship Amendment Act and repeated references to "infiltration."
The manifesto also promised that the Uniform Civil Code would be implemented in Bengal within six months of the BJP coming to power.
"The UCC has been implemented in several BJP-ruled states. We will implement it in Bengal within six months, ensuring one law for all citizens. In Bengal, one law will be ensured for all citizens," Shah said.
In an apparent attempt to address concerns from minorities, he added that the BJP would also enact a law guaranteeing freedom of religion for every citizen.
The saffron party's manifesto, aimed at wresting control from the TMC, heavily focused on welfare promises designed to appeal to women voters, the ruling party's strongest base.
Shah announced that every woman in Bengal would receive ₹3,000 per month if the BJP came to power. He also promised 33% reservation for women in all government jobs, including the police, as well as free travel on public transport.
This promise is politically significant in a state where women constitute nearly half the electorate.
The rise in women's participation and the popularity of the TMC government's schemes, such as Lakshmir Bhandar, have been a key factor in the ruling party's electoral success.
Last month, the TMC announced an increase of ₹500 in Lakshmir Bhandar, raising the monthly payout to ₹1,500 for general category women and ₹1,700 for SC and ST beneficiaries.
The BJP manifesto also aimed to address discontent among unemployed youth and government employees.
It promised unemployed youth a monthly allowance of ₹3,000 and an additional ₹15,000 for competitive examinations. Those who lost jobs due to the school recruitment scam and other corruption-related cases would be given an age relaxation of up to five years, the BJP promised.
It also pledged transparent and merit-based recruitment, promising permanent jobs for deserving candidates.
Attempting to leverage existing resentment among state government employees over dearness allowance, Shah promised DA parity with the Centre and the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission within 45 days of assuming office.
"DA for all government employees and pensioners will be ensured, and the Seventh Pay Commission will be implemented within 45 days," he said.
For farmers, the BJP promised to increase assistance under the PM-Kisan scheme to ₹9,000 annually by adding ₹3,000 from the state government to the Centre's existing ₹6,000.
The manifesto also mentioned a broad infrastructure and development package aimed at countering the perception that the BJP focuses solely on identity politics.
Shah announced the establishment of AIIMS, IIT, IIM, and a fashion designing institute in different districts of North Bengal, as well as a new cancer hospital with modern facilities in the region.
Four new townships would be developed across the state after suitable locations are identified, while special deep-sea ports would be built at Tajpur and Kulpi, and a separate development plan would be drawn up for the Haldia port, the manifesto promised.
The BJP also promised a 10-year action plan for Kolkata, which Shah said would be projected globally as a "living city."
Darjeeling would be developed as a heritage tourism destination, while the hill areas would be developed "keeping Bengal united," a formulation apparently aimed at balancing the BJP's support base in the hills with concerns in the plains regarding any suggestion of division.
Alongside development came a heavy cultural emphasis. The BJP said it would develop a Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spiritual circuit, establish a cultural center in the name of Rabindranath Tagore, and set up a Vande Mataram museum.
It promised that a BJP government would set up a committee of retired Supreme Court judges to investigate political violence and another of retired judges to supervise probes into crimes against women, such as in Sandeshkhali.
