Lok Sabha elections: Lok Sabha elections: The Trinamool Congress on Wednesday released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections with a promise of welfare schemes including ration at doorstep, 10 free cooking cylinders for BPL families. The ruling party has also promised to repeal Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and stop National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Alleging that the BJP has made the entire country a "detention camp", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the CAA and NRC will be scrapped if opposition bloc INDIA forms government at the Centre. She alleged that there will be "no democracy and elections if Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to power" for the third consecutive term.
Here's what TMC promises
The party's manifesto also promises to bring a constitutional amendment to Article 155 to ensure that "governors are appointed in consultation with state legislatures."
"The federal rights of all states will be firmly preserved... We will not accept the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal," the party stated.
The manifesto also mentioned that the next round of India's decadal population census, which has not happened since 2011, will be conducted. The manifesto promised to ensure that the country's judiciary remains free from political pressures or inducements, advocating instead for a neutral, impartial, transparent commission.
"It will oversee appointments of SC and HC judges based on merit and eligibility rather than reciprocity, in line with the Supreme Court judgment, and its evaluation criteria and deliberations will be made public," it said.
The manifesto also promised to institute a mandatory three-year 'cooling-off period' before retired judges can accept government appointments or political roles.
The TMC pledged to restore the autonomy of agencies such as CBI, ED, NIA, and Income Tax, as well as bodies like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), by amending their respective foundational Acts to regulate the Union Government's role in their operational decisions.
Critiquing the BJP for undermining the communal fabric of the country, the manifesto promised to establish a National Integration Council (NIC) comprising the Centre and states and take cooperative measures to strengthen India's communal harmony and manage threats arising from disharmony.
On the financial front, the party promised a comprehensive reform of the GST system.
"The current GST regime, which has eroded the fiscal autonomy of our states and led to heavy losses, will be reformed into a more equitable instrument of revenue distribution," it said.
The party also promised to delink the Railway Budget from the Union budget and allocate 5 per cent of the country's overall GDP for education.
In regards to national security, the party promised to do away with the Agnipath Scheme and restore "the Indian Armed Forces' traditional recruitment mechanisms."
"We will amend the current BSF Act to establish an independent oversight committee to promptly investigate allegations of misuse of force against innocent citizens during peacetime. We will revert BSF's jurisdiction to 15 km from the International border in West Bengal," it said.
The manifesto also promised to provide ration at the doorstep and 10 free cooking cylinders yearly for BPL families. Reaching out to MGNREGA workers, the party promised increased income for labourers and a guarantee of 100 days of work for job card holders with a daily wage of Rs 400.
"Increased allowance for higher education for students from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities. Implementation of the MS Swaminathan Commission recommendations, which legally guarantee farmers the MSP," he said.
Mitra said the cost of petrol, diesel, and LPG cylinders will be capped to ensure affordability, and a "Price Stabilization Fund" will be established to manage rate fluctuations.
The Lok Sabha Election 2024 in West Bengal is scheduled to commence on April 19 and will be conducted in seven phases until June 1. The state offers 42 seats to the Lok Sabha, and the result of the election is expected to be announced on June 4.
