nAhead of the delhi Assembly Elections scheduled for February 5, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unveiled its manifesto on Wednesday,focusing on middle-class welfare. Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convener, presented a seven-point charter of demands aimed at addressing key issues faced by the middle class, including education, health, taxation, and senior citizen welfare.
Kejriwal called for the upcoming Union Budget to prioritize the middle class, proposing important reforms. “These demands aim to ease the financial burden on the middle class and address long-standing issues in education, health, and senior citizen welfare,” he said.
The seven-point manifesto includes:
- Increased education spending: Allocate 10% of the Budget to education, up from the current 2%, and introduce caps on private school fees.
- Higher education support: Provide subsidies and scholarships to make higher education more accessible.
- Boost health funding: Increase the health budget to 10% and remove taxes on health insurance.
- Tax reforms: Raise the income tax exemption limit from ₹7 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
- Essential goods relief: Remove GST from essential commodities.
- Senior citizen benefits: Implement robust retirement plans, pension schemes, and free medical services at all hospitals.
- Travel concession: Provide a 50% concession on rail travel for senior citizens.
Kejriwal emphasized the AAP’s commitment to using tax money for public welfare. “We use tax money for education, protecting the middle class from inflation. We reduced power tariff, water bills, and improved infrastructure in government hospitals,” he stated.
The manifesto release coincided with a press conference where Kejriwal and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh Bidhuri and his associates of perpetrating “hooliganism” against AAP workers. Atishi claimed that BJP workers and individuals claiming to be Bidhuri’s nephews were threatening AAP workers, grabbing their collars, and burning campaign materials.“BJP has created an atmosphere of terror in the Kalkaji Vidhan Sabha region,” she said.
Kejriwal echoed these concerns, stating that the BJP’s actions were not limited to one constituency.“Any party or candidate resorts to violence onyl when they see that it is impossible to win peacefully. BJP is heading towards a historic defeat in Delhi,” he added.
the Delhi Assembly Elections will see a three-way contest between the ruling AAP, BJP, and Congress.The AAP dominated the 2020 elections, winning 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP secured eight. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years, failed to win any seats in the last two elections.
| key Demands | Details |
|---|---|
| Education Spending | Increase to 10% of budget, cap private school fees |
| Health Funding | Increase to 10%, remove taxes on health insurance |
| Tax Reforms | Raise income tax exemption limit to ₹10 lakh |
| Senior Citizen Benefits | Pension schemes, free medical services, 50% rail concession |
As the election date approaches, the political tussle between AAP and BJP continues to intensify. Delhi will go to the polls on February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8.
Headline: Unveiling AAP’s Vision for Delhi’s Middle Class: A Conversation with political Analyst Dr. Neha Srivastava
Introduction:
With the delhi Assembly Elections 2025 just around the corner, the political dynamics in the national capital are heating up. the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP),led by Arvind Kejriwal,has presented its manifesto with a clear focus on middle-class welfare. In this exclusive interview, Senior Editor Mr. rajat Kumar of World-Today-news.com sat down with renowned political analyst Dr.Neha Srivastava too discuss AAP’s electoral strategy, its promises to the middle class, and the broader political landscape of Delhi.
AAP’s Manifesto and Middle-Class Welfare
Rajat Kumar (RK): Dr. Srivastava, AAP has unveiled a seven-point manifesto focusing on middle-class welfare. What are your initial thoughts on this strategy?
Dr. Neha Srivastava (NS): Thanks, Rajat. AAP’s manifesto is a well-crafted attempt to address the pressing concerns of the Delhi middle class. By prioritizing sectors like education, health, taxation, and senior citizen welfare, Kejriwal’s party has demonstrated its understanding of the electorate’s pulse. This could considerably impact voter behavior in the upcoming elections.
Education Spending and Affordability
RK: The manifesto proposes increasing education spending to 10% of the budget and capping private school fees. How feasible and effective do you think these proposals are?
NS: These proposals are indeed enterprising and, if implemented, could dramatically improve access to quality education for middle-class families. However, the feasibility largely depends on the post-election government’s ability to earmark significant funds and regulate private schools effectively. The potential impact on educational affordability and quality is substantial, which could attract a important voter base.
Health Funding and Insurance
RK: AAP also promises to increase health spending and remove taxes on health insurance. How might these reforms affect healthcare access and affordability in Delhi?
NS: These reforms, if executed, could lead to enhanced healthcare accessibility and reduced out-of-pocket expenses for the middle class. By increasing health spending, the government could potentially improve the overall quality of public healthcare services, making them a more viable option for families.Removing taxes on health insurance would also make it more affordable, encouraging wider adoption.
Tax Reforms and Senior Citizen Benefits
RK: Kejriwal also proposed raising the income tax exemption limit and offering various senior citizen benefits. How do these proposals stand out, and what challenges might they face?
NS: These proposals cater to two significant voter segments – the working middle class and senior citizens. The tax exemption limit increase could lead to immediate relief for a large number of taxpayers. Simultaneously occurring, senior citizen benefits such as pension schemes, free medical services, and rail concessions could resonate strongly with the elderly community. However, successfully implementing such wide-ranging benefits might require efficient policy execution and adequate financial allocation.
AAP vs BJP: The Political Tussle
RK: With the political temperature rising, how do you see the tussle between AAP and BJP shaping up in the elections?
NS: The election is shaping up to be a keenly contested battle between AAP and BJP. AAP’s manifesto seems designed to target the middle class, a significant voter base in Delhi. Meanwhile, the BJP is expected to leverage its incumbent status at the national level and its history of stark campaign tactics. The political discourse in the coming weeks will likely be intense and diverse, focusing on various policies, performances, and allegations.
Delhi’s Three-Way Contest and Predictions
RK: With three major parties contesting, what predicts paramount for the outcome of these elections?
NS: The Delhi Assembly Elections this year are a three-way contest between AAP, BJP, and Congress. The vote shares and strategic alliances among smaller parties could play a crucial role in determining the final outcome. Additionally, issues like price rise, governance, law and order, and developmental accomplishments are likely to be key factors influencing voter decisions. Predicting a clear winner at this stage would be speculative, given the competitive nature of the contest and the numerous factors at play. However, one thing is certain: whoever wins will have to work hard to deliver on their promises and fulfil the aspirations of Delhi’s voters.
