Kolkata, April 4 – The Left Front, led by the CPI(M) in West Bengal, released its manifesto for the upcoming state assembly elections on Saturday, with a focus on industrial development and job creation.
The manifesto promised to create jobs in both the public and private sectors. This would be achieved by filling all vacant positions in the state government and by attracting large-scale investments through changes to the state's industrial policy.
The manifesto, released by veteran CPI(M) leader and Left Front chairman in West Bengal, Biman Bose, promised guaranteed 120-day jobs in urban areas and 200-day jobs in rural areas, with a daily wage of Rs 600.
It also pledged to fill vacant positions in the state government through a transparent recruitment process, whether through the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) or the West Bengal Public Service Commission (WBPSC), within the next five years.
Other major promises include increasing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 16 agricultural products by 1.5 times, free electricity up to 100 units, strict enforcement of laws prohibiting the illegal filling of water bodies, and empowering women by creating 20 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) over the next five years.
The Left Front also promised a special health insurance scheme for senior citizens and a special old-age pension scheme with a monthly limit of Rs 6,000.
The manifesto also focused on creating dedicated schools, colleges, and hospitals for minority and backward class communities.
After releasing the manifesto, Bose said that another key focus area would be addressing the large accumulated debt incurred by the state exchequer during the last 15 years of the Trinamool Congress regime in West Bengal, through the elimination of wasteful and non-plan expenditure.
He said: "One thing that the current ruling party leaders repeatedly say is how they will develop the state, considering the large accumulated debt incurred by the previous Left Front regime.
"In 2011, when the new regime started in West Bengal, the accumulated debt was just Rs 1.92 lakh crore, which has now increased to Rs 7.14 lakh crore. So debt servicing through rationalisation of expenditure will be our main focus."