Congress leaders BK Hariprasad (from left), Sukhdeo Bhagat, Subodh Kant Sahay, Rajendra Prasad Singh, Furkan Ansari and Samsher Alam release the manifesto in Ranchi on Wednesday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, Nov. 19: The Congress today went all out to woo voters from all sections of the society, stopping just short of promising the moon in its poll manifesto that had something for everyone starting from BPL families to brides.

The 36-page poll pledge, which focuses on what some Congress leaders called “basic needs of people and the state”, was released at a Ranchi hotel today by state in-charge B.K. Hariprasad, state president Sukhdeo Bhagat, former Ranchi MP and chairman of election campaign committee Subodh Kant Sahay, minister and Bermo candidate Rajendra Prasad Singh among others.

Striking a pro-people, secular image, the party sought to win over people cutting across religion, community and social standing. It also raised the Naxalite issue, a very important poll plank for a state like Jharkhand where Maoist violence is on the rise.

“We are focusing on basic needs of people and the state. This includes development of infrastructure for power, industries, human resources and agriculture, employment generation, effective governance, social security, minority and tribal welfare, protection of tribal rights, displacement and others. We are trying to clear the mess created by the BJP in Jharkhand in the past 14 years,” Sahay said.

If BPL families have been promised a TV if the party comes to power in Jharkhand, brides-to-be should be happy to know that a political party is willing to gift mangalsutras to them. Newly married couples will get wedding dresses.

Like the BJP, it also promised 35kg food grains to BPL families and paddy at Rs 2,000 per quintal.

With an eye on minority voters, the party committed itself to a slue of welfare schemes — implementation of the Ranganath Mishra commission report and Multi-Sectoral Development Plan (a programme of the Union ministry of minority affairs), UGC grants to madarsas teaching alim, fazil courses, bicycle for madarsa students, midday meal in minority schools, more Urdu schools and the list goes on.

Tribals and dalits also stand to gain. The offerings include Sarna Code; effective implementation of Chotanagpur Tenancy Act and Santhal Pargana Tenancy Act; Forest Rights Act (2006); Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, and so on.

For Bengalis, the party has spoken about an academy. Also on the list are free school uniforms, bicycles and books from Class VIII onwards for students of government-run schools.

Loan waiver for farmers, free education to girls, recruitment drive for grade third and fourth employees within 100 days in government departments, reservation of women in police forces, financial assistance to senior citizens are some of the other promises.

On Naxalite issue, the party said it would hold peace talks with the rebels, but added that the ongoing security operation would not be halted.

Rajendra Prasad Singh, who holds the power and health portfolio, said there would be zero power cut under the Congress-led government.

“In the past 14 months, the energy sector has significantly improved in the state. Farmers will be given free electricity up to 5KB. Our government will fix a target of generation of additional 20,000MW of electricity,” Singh said.

Asked about the wedding clothes and mangalsutras, chairman of manifesto committee Anadi Brahma said: “It is a part of our social concern. Our intention is to promote adarsh vivah. Many social outfits support the weddings of people from economically weaker sections of the society. The poor will be covered under this scheme.”

BJP national spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain wrote off the manifesto as a “bundle of false promises”.

POLL BRIEFS

Ranchi, Nov. 19: Notification for the fourth phase of Assembly elections was issued on Wednesday.

Fifteen seats — Madhupur, Deoghar (SC), Bagodar, Jamua (SC), Gandey, Giridih, Dumri, Bokaro, Chandankyari (SC), Sindri, Nirsa, Dhanbad, Jharia, Tundi and Baghmara — will go to polls on December 14. The last date of filing nominations is November 26.

Ranchi: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will visit Jharkhand to address election rallies in Gumla and Daltonganj on November 23.

Ranchi: The JVM on Wednesday released a list of 13 candidates. Bablu Murmu is the new nominee from Dumka. Stephen Marandi, who defected to the JMM, was earlier fielded from Dumka.

Ranchi: The Samajwadi Party (SP) released its poll manifesto on Wednesday, promising a slew of welfare projects.

Jamshedpur: JVM candidate from Jamshedpur West Firoz Khan, presently in Ghaghidih Central Jail, could not get bail on Wednesday as the court of the third additional district judge sought the case diary from Bistupur police.

Jamshedpur: Flying squads and videographers will keep a hawk’s eye on candidates, especially in the city and its outskirts, from Thursday.