The Union Home Minister Amit Shah unveiled the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) manifesto for the upcoming Chhattisgarh assembly elections at an event held at Kushabhau Thakre Parisar in the state on Friday (3 November).

The manifesto, titled ‘Modi ki guarantee 2023,’ includes a range of promises, such as providing yearly financial assistance of Rs 12,000 to married women and offering cooking gas cylinders to impoverished families at the price of Rs 500.

During the launch of the manifesto, Shah emphasised that it’s not merely a document for the BJP but a ‘Sankalp Patra’ (document of resolution) for them, Hindustan Times reported.

He recalled how the BJP-led central government had established Chhattisgarh as a state in 2000 and transformed it from a BIMARU (laggard) state into a thriving one during their 15-year rule from 2003 to 2018. Shah assured the people that the BJP would work diligently to continue the state’s development over the next five years.

Other key promises in the BJP’s manifesto include filling one lakh vacant government posts within two years, offering a monthly travel allowance for college students via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and sanctioning funds for 18 lakh houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

A promise is also to ensure tap water connections in every home within two years under the ‘Ghar Ghar Nirmal Jal Abhiyan’ and launch of ‘Deendayal Upadhyay Krishi Majdoor Yojana’ to provide Rs 10,000 per year to landless agricultural laborer.

Other promises are introducing the ‘Mahtari Vandan Scheme’, procuring 21 quintals per acre of paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal under the ‘Krishi Unnati Scheme,’ and organising visits to the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Amit Shah also took the opportunity to criticise Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel, labeling him a “pre-paid CM” of the Congress party and stating that his “validity of talk time has ended.”

Shah alleged that Baghel had turned Chhattisgarh into the “ATM of Congress” and cautioned against his potential re-election, claiming that it would lead to the daily withdrawal of large sums of money and harm the state’s welfare.

Shah urged voters to consider the future of Chhattisgarh when casting their ballots, emphasizing that their votes could shape the region’s future by combatting Naxalism and fostering development in the Adivasi region.

The Chhattisgarh assembly elections are scheduled to be conducted in two phases on 7 and 17 November, with the results set to be announced on 3 December.