Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019. It has become easier to point out the differences between the election documents of the BJP and the main Opposition party- Congress. Congress party launched its manifesto on April 2.

The main differences between BJP and Congress manifestos:

• The election document of grand old party emphasised to eliminate abject poverty by 2030 through its minimum income guarantee scheme ‘NYAY’, while the saffron party has pledged to bring down the number of BPL families to the single digit.
• The manifesto of Congress party has claimed to create 22 lakh jobs by the end of 2020, while the BJP’s document has vowed to push create new opportunities of employment by providing more support to the 22 major 'Champion Sectors'.
• The Congress has promised to review Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and initiate the peace process in Kashmir whereas the BJP reiterated its stand on abrogation of Article 370 and scrapping of Article 35A.
• The Congress, in its manifesto, promised to introduce a separate Kisan budget, while the BJP vowed to double farmers' income by 2020 and to provide pensions for small, marginal farmers.
• Both the Congress and BJP have openly expressed support for the Women’s Reservation Bill multiple times, neither party pushed it through while they were in power. It has been more than 22 years since the bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha.
• The Congress has promised “safe and hygienic public toilets” across towns and cities and sanitary napkin vending machines in public places, schools and colleges. While the BJP’s promise on health and sanitation was also a bit ambiguous. While they promised that they will “ensure that all reproductive and menstrual health services are easily available to all women across India”, they did not specify in what way this would be carried out.
• The Congress boasted that it was the pioneer of the ‘self-help group movement’ and said that it will also launch the National Rural Livelihoods Mission-2 if it came to power to ensure economic benefits for women. The BJP said it will “significantly increase” the honorarium of ASHA and Anganwadi workers as well as the coverage of Ayushman Bharat to include all Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers.
• BJP says that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wish that India see “women-led” development, the Congress claims that it had always been at the forefront of women empowerment and that it was the only party that gave India a woman prime minister.

The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19 while the results will be announced on May 23.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2019. It has become easier to point out the differences between the election documents of the BJP and the main Opposition party- Congress. Congress party launched its manifesto on April 2.

The main differences between BJP and Congress manifestos:

• The election document of grand old party emphasised to eliminate abject poverty by 2030 through its minimum income guarantee scheme ‘NYAY’, while the saffron party has pledged to bring down the number of BPL families to the single digit.
• The manifesto of Congress party has claimed to create 22 lakh jobs by the end of 2020, while the BJP’s document has vowed to push create new opportunities of employment by providing more support to the 22 major 'Champion Sectors'.
• The Congress has promised to review Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and initiate the peace process in Kashmir whereas the BJP reiterated its stand on abrogation of Article 370 and scrapping of Article 35A.
• The Congress, in its manifesto, promised to introduce a separate Kisan budget, while the BJP vowed to double farmers' income by 2020 and to provide pensions for small, marginal farmers.
• Both the Congress and BJP have openly expressed support for the Women’s Reservation Bill multiple times, neither party pushed it through while they were in power. It has been more than 22 years since the bill was first introduced in the Lok Sabha.
• The Congress has promised “safe and hygienic public toilets” across towns and cities and sanitary napkin vending machines in public places, schools and colleges. While the BJP’s promise on health and sanitation was also a bit ambiguous. While they promised that they will “ensure that all reproductive and menstrual health services are easily available to all women across India”, they did not specify in what way this would be carried out.
• The Congress boasted that it was the pioneer of the ‘self-help group movement’ and said that it will also launch the National Rural Livelihoods Mission-2 if it came to power to ensure economic benefits for women. The BJP said it will “significantly increase” the honorarium of ASHA and Anganwadi workers as well as the coverage of Ayushman Bharat to include all Anganwadi workers and ASHA workers.
• BJP says that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s wish that India see “women-led” development, the Congress claims that it had always been at the forefront of women empowerment and that it was the only party that gave India a woman prime minister.

The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19 while the results will be announced on May 23.