Sanjay Kumar’s column – Despite being in losses, parties are promising free things. Sanjay Kumar’s column: Despite being in loss, parties are promising free things

Sanjay Kumar, professor and political commentator

A comparison of the manifestos issued by the major parties contesting the assembly elections in Jharkhand and Maharashtra shows that these elections are neither about ideology, nor about policies and programs, not even about good governance. Are. These are just about giving freebies or facilities or promises to do so if they come to power!

Sometimes the manifestos of different parties appear as if they are mirror images of each other. They are so similar that the parties even accuse each other of copying their manifestos. The election campaign of parties rarely focuses on the achievements of the government. Nor does it focus on the development work to be done by the party if it comes to power.

It just focuses on promises of freebies/features. The reason behind this effective, but new trend is clear. Giving away freebies, or promising to do so, helps parties garner votes. This does not harm his electoral prospects. However, such freebie promises put immense pressure on state exchequers, most of which are already heavily in debt.

It is noteworthy that recently CAG had warned about the fiscal situation of Maharashtra as the state has a fiscal deficit of Rs 2.75 lakh crore, which the state has to repay in seven years. But why are parties promising freebies/facilities despite huge fiscal deficit?

Even though many political parties are contesting the elections in Maharashtra, the main battle is between the Mahayuti and MVA alliances. The contest appears to be evenly matched, not only because there are three parties on each side, but also because both the alliances have been in power for approximately equal periods of time. Not surprisingly, both are making more or less similar announcements regarding freebies/facilities to woo different sections of voters.

The ruling Mahayuti has given Rs 1500 to every woman under the ‘Majhi Ladki Baheen’ scheme. Announced to give, but MVA gave Rs 3000 to the women. Promised to give and also promised free bus travel under Mahalakshmi scheme.

There is a lot of discussion about the farmers’ crisis in Maharashtra and both the alliances are trying to woo the farmers and bring them to their side. While Mahayuti has promised farm loan waiver for farmers and Rs 1500 under Kisan Samman Yojana, MVA has promised farm loan waiver of up to Rs 3 lakh and incentives for those who repay loans on time.

They are also trying to woo young voters in the state, by promising jobs and unemployment allowance to unemployed youth. Apart from free medical care and free or subsidized electricity, promises of free or subsidized gas cylinders have also been made. More or less similar announcements have been made by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Congress alliance and BJP alliance to woo women, youth, farmers and especially tribals in Jharkhand.

Despite the fact that most of the states are in crisis economically, the promise of giving freebies/facilities when in power or coming to power has become an important part of the election campaign as the parties have realized that it brings benefits. Is.

The findings of surveys conducted by Lokniti during the last decade clearly indicate that a large section of beneficiaries of schemes (freebies/facilities) vote more for the ruling party and less for the opposition and vice versa. Is. But it would be a misunderstanding on the part of the parties if they believe that elections can be won by distributing or promising freebies because not all beneficiaries vote for the ruling party. Evidence also shows that not all nonprofits vote against the ruling party.

If people are not very unhappy with the current government, then these promises increase the strength of the party, but if people seem unhappy with the government then they do not help the party. Freebies helped BJP win again in MP, but Congress was voted out of power in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while the ruling parties in all three states were heavily dependent on freebies in the name of welfare schemes.

(These are the author’s own views)