BJP vs Congress Manifesto for General Election 2024 – A Comparative Analysis

The Poor

BJP: The Bharatiya Janata Party has committed to extending the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, providing free ration to 800 million people for an additional five years. They also propose establishing a price stabilisation fund for vegetables and pulses, aiming for self-reliance in producing pulses, edible oils, and vegetables to ensure food security. Under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the BJP vows to continue offering free healthcare up to ₹5 lakh to impoverished families. Furthermore, they plan to expand the PM Awas Yojana by constructing an additional 30 million houses for the poor, ensuring drinking water supply to every household, and reducing electricity bills by offering free solar power through the PM Surya Ghar Yojana.

Congress: The Indian National Congress pledges to raise wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to ₹400 per day. They propose utilizing MGNREGS funds and workers for building public assets such as classrooms, libraries, and primary health centers. Additionally, the Congress promises to introduce an urban employment guarantee scheme for the urban poor to revitalize urban infrastructure. They advocate for a national minimum wage of ₹400 per day and propose amending the GST law to ensure it does not burden the poor, adhering to a universally accepted single, moderate rate (with exceptions).

Women

BJP: The BJP aims to increase the number of Lakhpati Didis, a self-help group (SHG) initiative for rural women, from 10 million to 30 million. They plan to empower women SHGs by providing skills and tools in sectors like IT, healthcare, education, retail, and tourism to enhance their income. Furthermore, the BJP intends to integrate SHGs with initiatives like One District One Product for better market access. They promise to facilitate greater women’s participation in the workforce by developing hostels, creches, and more public toilets. Additionally, they pledge to expand health services targeting breast and cervical cancer prevention and reduction.

Congress: The Congress proposes the Mahalakshmi scheme, offering ₹1 lakh annually as unconditional cash transfer to identified poor families at the bottom of the income pyramid. They commit to reserving 50% of central government jobs for women starting from 2025 and ensuring more women are appointed to key positions such as judges, government secretaries, high-ranking police officers, law officers, and directors on the boards of listed companies. Furthermore, the Congress plans to double working women hostels and establish at least one Savitribai Phule Hostel in each district.

Youth

BJP: The Bharatiya Janata Party pledges to tackle paper leaks and enact legislation to prevent them. They aim to bolster the start-up ecosystem to foster entrepreneurship among youth, particularly by encouraging start-ups in government procurement. Additionally, the BJP emphasizes employment generation through infrastructure development and the expansion of the tourism sector.

Congress: The Indian National Congress promises a Right to Apprenticeship Act, offering a one-year apprenticeship with private or public sector companies to diploma holders or college graduates under 25, with a stipend of ₹1 lakh per year. This apprenticeship program is envisioned to impart skills, enhance employability, and create full-time job opportunities for millions of youth. The Congress also commits to filling nearly three million vacancies in central government posts and filling vacancies in panchayats and municipal bodies as per agreed-upon timetables with state governments.

Farmers

BJP: The BJP manifesto commits to continuing the ₹6,000 annual support to farmers under the PM Kisan Nidhi scheme and strengthening the crop insurance scheme. They promise to review Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for crops timely and aid in the production of nutritious vegetables. The BJP also pledges to establish new clusters for the production of essentials like onions and tomatoes, enhance storage facilities, and focus on natural farming and crop diversification. Moreover, they aim to promote millets (Shree Anna) for food security, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.

Congress: The Congress guarantees “a legal guarantee” of MSP annually as per the Swaminathan Commission’s recommendation. They propose making the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices a statutory body and establishing a Permanent Commission on Agricultural Finance to periodically report on agricultural credit and the need for loan forbearance.

Senior Citizens

BJP: The BJP vows to expand the Ayushman Bharat scheme to cover senior citizens above 70 years old. They promise to facilitate knowledge sharing among senior citizens through a National Senior Citizens portal and provide access to social security benefits and services at their doorstep.

Congress: The Congress pledges a ₹1,000 monthly contribution from the central government to pensions for senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities under the National Social Assistance Programme. Additionally, they promise easy access to legal services for senior citizens and a review of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act to address deficiencies.

Infrastructure

BJP: The BJP promises to introduce four bullet trains covering all regions of the country and expand the railway network to enhance passenger and cargo transport capacity. They commit to redeveloping railway stations, adding Vande Bharat sleeper trains, expanding the Metro network, improving rural roads, and decongesting cities. Additionally, they pledge to expand airways, motorways, railways, and highways.

Congress: The Congress emphasizes the need to attract private capital to develop public assets and infrastructure. They pledge to modernize outdated railway infrastructure and ensure trains and stations cater to the needs of common people and commuters. The Congress aims to halt what they perceive as the BJP government’s misuse of public funds for private gains.

Governance

BJP: The BJP promises to continue fighting against corruption, implement the Uniform Civil Code, and formulate a national litigation policy to expedite court matters. They envision simplifying government processes, procedures, rules, and regulations to reduce government intervention in citizens’ daily lives.

Congress: The Congress pledges to amend laws to address hate speeches, hate crimes, and communal conflicts and alleviate the climate of fear. They assert the need to uphold democratic values and ensure law enforcement agencies operate within the confines of the law, with oversight by Parliament or state legislatures.

Internal Security

BJP: The BJP pledges zero tolerance towards terrorism, infrastructure development on borders, bolstering cybersecurity measures, eradicating Left-Wing Extremism, and equipping paramilitary forces with advanced equipment and trained personnel. They commit to implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and establishing a National Forensics Mission.

Congress: The Congress promises to collaborate with state governments to strengthen police forces, maintain law and order, and hold offenders accountable. They pledge to establish a National Intelligence Grid and National Counter-Terrorism Centre to address security challenges effectively.

Foreign Policy

BJP: The BJP vows to strengthen India’s position as a leading voice of the Global South, advocate for permanent membership at the UN Security Council, combat global terrorism, and expand diplomatic networks. They pledge to continue focusing on the Neighbourhood First policy and engage Non-Resident Indians in India’s growth and prosperity.

Congress: The Congress pledges continuity in foreign policy, shaped by India’s freedom movement and visionary leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru. They aim to repair India’s international image damaged by what they perceive as the present government’s intolerance and suppression of human rights.