Puducherry Assembly Elections: BJP Promises Two Free LPG Cylinders, E-scooters For Girl Students In Manifesto

Puducherry: The BJP has released a 20-point agenda for the development of Puducherry in its manifesto for the April 9 assembly elections in the Union Territory. In the manisfesto, the saffron party promises two free LPG gas cylinders to all ration card-holding families and e-scooters to girls who perform well in Class 12 exams.

What is there in the manifesto?

The BJP manifesto promised to open the now defunct Anglo-French Textile (AFT) mills and to provide two free LPG cylinders a year, if the party was voted to power.

The party promises two free LPG gas cylinders to all ration card-holding families and e-scooters to girls who perform well in Class 12 examinations and also setting up of 30 water ATMs across the Union Territory.

What did Puducherry BJP president say?

After releasing the manifesto, Puducherry BJP president V P Ramalingam said that the party will provide two free LPG cylinder in two different occasions.

Ramalingam said that to ensure festivals are not disrupted by fuel shortage, one free LPG cylinder during Pongal and another during Vinayagar Chaturthi to every household.

While talking about the free e-scooters to girls, Ramalingam said that about 3,000 students could benefit annually under this scheme.

"To ease transportation difficulties for girl students and encourage them to pursue higher education, free electric scooters will be provided under the 'Anbu Thangai' scheme to those who score high marks in Class XII public examinations," Ramalingam added.

What were other promises?

The manifesto also promised to enhance the financial assistance to fishermen during the fishing ban period from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000, free houses to 5,000 fishermen families.

Many other promises were made including, introduction of a Vande Bharat train connecting Puducherry and Mysore, developing the Puducherry-Villupuram railway track to run a Vande-Metro (Puducherry to Chennai), naming Puducherry Railway station after Tamil Poet Subramniya Bharathi.

Who released the manifesto?

The manifesto was released by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who is also the Pondicherry election in-charge. The manifesto was released in the presence of BJP State President V P Ramalignam and Home Minister A Namasivyam.

When is the election?

According to the schedule decided by the Election Commission, voting for 30 seats will be held in a single phase on April 9. The counting of votes in the Union territory will take place on May 4.