With the high-stakes Lok Sabha elections just a few weeks away, the BJP today got into its campaign mode with the launch of ‘Bharat Ke Mann Ki Baat’ campaign through which it plans to reach out to as many as 10 crore families across India to finalise the manifesto. The committee, headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will finalise the manifesto which will be compiled after consultation with various stakeholders, which include state units of the party and its supporters. The manifesto is being called ‘Sankalp Patra’.
To compile the manifesto, BJP President Amit Shah flagged off a ‘Rath Yatra’ on Sunday, through which mobile vans will be sent across the country to collect the suggestions. There will also be as many as 7,500 physical kiosks to collect the same. Apart from soliciting and accepting such suggestions through social media, phone calls, WhatsApp, etc. The BJP aims to reach out to 10 crore families through various means for compiling the manifesto. Every state has a 20-member team for the compilation of suggestions given by people, which will be then incorporated by a 30-member national team to compile the manifesto.
Saying that the general public and voters come before the party and supporters, BJP President Amit Shah said, “Prior to 2014, India was governed by coalitions for 30 years, which not only wreaked development but also people’s faith in democratic principles. Lack of continuity in governance had weakened this faith. BJP has internal democracy and is based on ideology, not on any family. BJP treats elections as a way to propagate ideology and to celebrate democracy, not as a way to grab power.” A class four employee at the venue where the event was taking place was invited to give the first feedback. He dropped his written suggestion in a box.
Speaking on the campaign, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, “This is a unique activity and aimed at connecting people to not just the party, but with the governance and democratic system.” Singh further talked about government’s achievements and ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas‘. He especially talked about rural India and reservations to the economically weaker section among general category. He even promised more reforms to make ease of doing business better.
