Attention Manifesto letters i.e. boxes of promises are about to be opened

Priyanka Saurabh *

In India, as the election year approaches, political parties start making populist announcements to come to power, such as promising to provide free electricity, water, laptops, bicycles, etc. This practice not only violates the value of equal opportunity for all to contest elections in a democracy, but also when the government comes to power, it fulfills its promises from the 'Public Fund' created from citizens' taxes.

This misuse also slows down the pace of development. Oho! What do you know/ Your life and honor/ The skin of your body get pulled for free/ So that there is no noise about your destruction/ Let's bring another issue/ Reservation and the Constitution too/ They abuse it to their heart's content/ Time to time/ Beat loudly.

Are/and what's more! Enemy of the society/ They call you only/ That's why they bring the election manifesto/ Now all the work is done/ Get it done by administration and media/ That's why they deviate from the issues/ Create new issues/ Beat him with a stick in the back/ They also add layers/ You are a fan of dreams/ You are sold in tempting paper promises/ Liquor and saree/ That is why/ They bring election manifesto.

Manifesto, this name comes into discussion before any election. This is the document that all political parties contesting elections issue. In this, he makes his promises to the public. Through this, they tell what they will do for the public after winning the elections. What will be their policies? How will the government be run and what benefit will the public get from it?

The manifesto for the elections will not be issued during the restrictive period. This instruction has been given according to Section 126 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. According to the same Act, it has also been said that even if elections are held in several phases, the manifesto will not be issued during the restrictive periods.

Let us tell you that according to Section 126 of the RP Act, this prohibitory period is 48 hours before the end of the elections, that is, there is a ban on issuing manifestos 48 hours before the voting.

However, in reality, the manifesto is just a box of promises, through which the public is wooed and votes are sought. How these promises are fulfilled is a matter of separate discussion. After all, are these election promises and loan waivers in the interest of the country or will they take it further into the abyss?

Not just a political party, they are your businessmen! We / Come! They value you / you remain silent / do not open your mouth / know your status / by telling lies and showing greed / they make you travel in the world of dreams / that is why / bring the election manifesto.

It is generally seen in Indian politics that when elections approach, various political parties release their respective 'manifestos'. The plans and promises of those parties are written in this manifesto. Issuing the manifesto is by the election code of conduct. But, with time, political parties have started misusing this right.

According to the rules, manifestos should include policy plans like if a certain party comes to power, it will have 'such' policy regarding education and employment, etc. Presently it has become a trend that political parties have started announcing gifts to woo voters. For example, if we come to power, we will give free television or waive off laptop or electricity bills, etc.

Such a declaration by the ruling party or big political parties is a direct violation of the 'right to equal opportunity in elections' of an independent candidate. The Supreme Court has also ordered the Election Commission to prepare appropriate guidelines in this regard.

The second issue is that to fulfill the promises of gifts, the party in power puts an unnecessary burden on the 'public fund' and the money that should have been used for capital formation is given gifts or subsidies. This is indeed being done for the public with public money, but this freebie is ultimately fatal for democracy.

The rate of giving peaceful governance/administration! They raise the issue prominently / after winning/get people to do the opposite / what a beautiful life / even their dreams are taken away / they get exploited and harassed by calling them Naxalites, traitors / Harijans, and forest dwellers! / As soon as the elections come / they are also called Hindus. That is why we bring the election manifesto.

In a country like America, economic-foreign policy, health care, governance reforms, environmental issues immigration, etc. are usually included in the manifesto. There is no mention of any special benefit in these. In India, not only issues are included, but there is a tradition of including special benefits in the manifesto.

Many times political parties even include freebies in their manifestos, the issue of which has even been raised in the Supreme Court. After this, on the instructions of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India has set certain guidelines for issuing manifestos for all political parties. Any freebies impact everyone.

In such a situation, fair and free elections cannot be held. Also, there is no such provision in the country by which the announcements made in the manifesto can be controlled. Therefore, the court asked the Election Commission to prepare guidelines after talking to the political parties.

It was also said that this guideline can also be included in the election code of conduct for political parties and candidates contesting elections. The manifesto will contain nothing against the ideals and principles of the Constitution and will follow the Model Code of Conduct. Political parties must avoid promises that may dilute the sanctity of the electoral process or hurt voters.

Political parties will explain the need for the promises made in the manifesto and only those promises will be made which can be fulfilled. It also needs to be explained how the financial needs will be met to fulfill these promises.

The strength of democracy is not in this / Cheated franchise is not right / Poor laborers are helpless / Have not yet understood / Greed! Exploitation, oppression, and repression/ Makes one forget everything/ Five years of beating/ Wipes out the Dalits in a moment/the next moment/ By stripping them naked! They run on the streets/that's why/bring the election manifesto.