"We will present new Maharashtra vision within 100 days of govt formation": Ajit Pawar on release of Poll Manifesto in Baramati

The manifestos were released simultaneously in different cities. NCP National President and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar led the release in his home constituency Baramati, while State President Sunil Tatkare released the manifesto in Mumbai, and Working President Praful Patel released it in Gondiya. NCP candidates and local leaders released the poll manifestos in their respective constituencies across all the assembly constituencies.

Pawar unveiled both the party's state-level manifesto and constituency manifesto for Baramati and said "We will present the New Maharashtra Vision within 100 days of government formation."

In its manifesto, the party has promised to increase the amount under Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana from the existing Rs1,500 per month to Rs2,100 per month. This initiative will be the largest monthly Direct Benefit Transfer in Maharashtra's history providing benefits of Rs25,000 per year to over 2.3 crore women.

Also, the manifesto consists of 11 new promises, increasing the old age pension from Rs1500 to Rs2100 per month. For farmers, the party has promised to raise the Shetkari Sanman Nidhi from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 per year, combining support from both the central and state governments.

Pawar has also promised to waive the farmer's loan and give a 20 per cent additional subsidy for all crops sold under MSP. Besides this, NCP has also given assurance of Rs25000 per hectare bonus for paddy farmers.

"We have resolved to build more than 45000 'panand' roads in rural parts of Maharashtra. This is the biggest plan to develop the rural agricultural infrastructure", the manifesto read.

Other commitments included in the manifesto are the creation of 2.5 million jobs and the provision of a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 to 1 million students through training, Rs15,000 monthly salary for Anganwadi and ASHA workers, a reduction in electricity bills by 30 per cent while prioritizing solar and renewable energy.

The Maharashtra assembly elections are set for November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23.

The opposition MVA coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), aims to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

In the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections, the BJP won 105 seats, Shiv Sena secured 56, and Congress 44. In 2014, the BJP won 122 seats, Shiv Sena 63, and Congress 42. (ANI)