The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made significant promises for Delhi’s future, with a major focus on health, infrastructure, and utilities.
Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, the chairman of the BJP’s Manifesto Committee in Delhi, recently addressed the media, highlighting several key initiatives that the party aims to implement once it comes to power in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Bidhuri's primary announcement was the introduction of the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme in Delhi, which the current AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) government has allegedly blocked.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) is a national health insurance initiative that provides up to Rs 5 lakh in health coverage to eligible families.
However, Delhiites have been denied these benefits, according to Bidhuri, due to political differences between the Delhi government and the Centre.
He criticised Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s administration for denying the benefits of this crucial scheme to the elderly and the poor in the city. When the BJP forms the next government, the first Cabinet meeting, he assured, will be dedicated to implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
Apart from healthcare, Bidhuri also took aim at the Delhi government’s management of water and electricity. He alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal and Aatishi governments have misled the public with promises that have failed to deliver.
The BJP leader specifically called out the so-called free 20,000-litre water scheme, labelling it as a "sham." He claimed that the Delhi government has not been able to provide safe drinking water to a significant portion of the population.
According to the Delhi Jal Board’s own data, a considerable number of water samples failed to meet quality standards, with many samples being contaminated. He expressed concern over the deteriorating health of citizens, caused by the poor quality of the water being supplied in the city.
Bidhuri also took a strong stance on electricity charges in Delhi. He accused the AAP government of charging high electricity rates, despite promises of subsidising power bills.
The BJP leader highlighted the high surcharges, with domestic users paying Rs 9 per unit of electricity, and commercial users facing even higher charges at Rs 17 per unit.
He promised that under a BJP government, these surcharges would be removed, and power bills would be rectified to provide relief to residents.
In terms of transport, Bidhuri criticised the AAP government’s failure to fulfil its promise of adding 15,000 new buses to the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) fleet.
He reminded the public that Kejriwal had failed to deliver on this commitment, which was especially important for ensuring the smooth, free travel of women in the city.
In contrast, he credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention for the addition of 1,600 new electric buses to the DTC fleet.
Looking ahead, he promised that a BJP-led government would add 10,000 new e-buses to the fleet, addressing both the city’s growing transport needs and its environmental concerns.
The BJP also announced plans to make its election manifesto more inclusive by engaging with the people of Delhi. Bidhuri revealed that the party had set up an official email ID and WhatsApp number to gather suggestions for the manifesto.
Additionally, starting from December 7, the BJP will deploy two video vans in each district to engage with residents and collect their ideas for the upcoming elections.
As the city gears up for the 2024 Assembly elections, scheduled for February, the BJP is positioning itself as a party that will bring substantial improvements to Delhi’s infrastructure, public health, and essential services.
By promising to implement schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, expanding the e-bus fleet, and addressing issues with water and power supply, the BJP aims to offer a compelling alternative to the current ruling party. It remains to be seen how Delhi’s voters will respond to these promises in the coming months.
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