Poll Promises ? Tall Promises ?

Yesterday , following Supreme Court directives , the Election Commission , revised , " Model Code of Conduct " , containing guidelines on what kind of poll promises , political parties can incorporate in their poll manifestos

GUIDELINES

>   Parties shall make only those promises which are possible to be fulfilled

>   It is expected that manifestos also reflect the rationale for the promises

     and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial

    requirements for it

>   Party in power shall stop advertizing for publicity of achievements

REACTIONS

>   BJP             ( Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi )

    "  BJP never makes unrealistic promises. We will assure the EC that our

    promises can be realized "

>  CONGRESS   ( a leader said , anonymously )

    " The Congress Manifesto would reflect the real issues and not make

     empty promises  "

Although , neither BJP , nor Congress , have released their poll manifestos so far , their leaders have openly " promised " , the following in election rallies :

BJP

>  In 5 years , we will construct 100 smart Mega-Cities

    ( works out to a brand new mega-city , every 18 days  ! )

    Now each mega city would cost about Rs 70,000  Crores ( current

    estimate for Dholera - Gujarat )

    That means , to build 100 mega-cities , BJP government ( if elected ),

    must find,

    Rs  7,000,000  Crores  ( only  !  )

    I suppose, they will succeed in convincing the EC , that ALL the black

    money that they will bring back from those Swiss bank accounts , will

    take care of the financing issue !

    But there is a real danger that the EC may turn around and ask :

    " Modi Saheb ,

    To people of Gujarat you promised ( in your Manifesto dt 6 Dec 2012 ),

    that , if voted to power , you will construct 5 Million houses for the poor,

   in 5 years

   That works out to 2,740 new houses EVERYDAY for 1825 days

   420 days have elapsed since you assumed power in Gujarat

   Where are those  11,50,685  houses , which are supposed to be ready ? "

 

CONGRESS

>  We will create 100 million new " skilled " jobs for youth in next 10 years

    That is 50 million ( 500 lakhs ) jobs in next 5 years (  if voted to power  -

    hence not to worry  !  )

    Now , even  a small time industry ( SME ) , needs Rs 10 lakhs worth of

    investment ( fixed + working capital ) , to hire ONE person

   So , creation of 500 lakh ( 50 million ) jobs ( in 5 years ) would require,

   Rs 50 Million Million

   ie : 5,000,000  Crores  !

  Election Commission :

  Rahulji , From where will you find this money  ?

       

  Rahulji :

  No need to depend upon those Swiss bankers to return that black money !

Our industrialist fund donors and scam-involved Netas / Officers , have enough    money stashed away locally , in bank lockers , gold , land etc

AAP

And , not to be outdone , even AAP succumbed to such " Selling of Dreams " , by promising the people of Delhi , that , if voted to power , it will construct 500 new schools in 5 years !

That is ONE new school every 4th day  ! - 12 schools in those 48 days  ?

And my estimate is , those 500 schools each, will need Rs 10 crores to build -

ie:  Rs 5,000 crores

And each of those schools will need Rs 1 Crore per year by way of staff salaries and maintenance - an annual burden of Rs 500 Crores  !

Normally cynical about poll promises , I feel , this time around , people of India will , carefully read the manifestos

Some may even complain to the EC , if they find " Tall Promises "  !

*  hemen  parekh  (  24  Feb  2014  /  Mumbai  )