VDAY: THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT WILL COUNT CORRUPTION

Even as the BJP launched a stinging attack on the Congress government over corruption, the latter is hoping DeMo/GST anger will turn fortunes in its favour

Corruption has been the main poll plank of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It had even submitted a chargesheet against the Congress government in December last year. The saffron party has been crying hoarse over the mining, sand, liquor and forest “mafias” in the state.

BJP: The saffron party has been promising digitisation, “24x7 Atal helpline” to report corruption and monthly “Janmanch” by ministers to ensure public participation in policy making.

CONGRESS: The incumbent party has promised time-bound service delivery and transparency in governance for bringing down corruption.

LAW AND ORDER

Law and order holds prominence in the state in the wake of the horrific rape and murder of a school girl in Kotkhai and the mysterious death of a forest guard, Hoshiyar Singh, that raised many questions.

BJP: The BJP has promised a “24x7 Hoshiyar helpline” to report activities of the forest mafia, Major Somnath Vahini battalion of ex-servicement to check the drug menace, a joint task force to curb mining, and a Gudiya helpline to combat violence against women.

CONGRESS: The Congress manifesto doesn’t promise anything in this regard

ECONOMY

The state’s economy is down in the dumps for want of government efforts to streamline it. No steps have been taken to mobilise resources for the past many years. Even the government auditor has predicted the state is heading towards a debt trap.

BJP: The saffron fold promises to bring a policy to end the debt-burden and revenue deficit, a panel to attract foreign investment and an expenditure control commission.

CONGRESS: The Congress manifesto says it will focus on resource mobilisation, reducing unproductive expenditure, and double the plan expenditure, besides taking up the issue of 100% financing of central-sponsored schemes.

JOBS

Unemployment figures figure high in the agenda of every political party before elections. This time 43% of the voters in the state are below 39. There may be claims and counter claims on the part of politicians, but jobs are the top priority for the youth of the state.

BJP: The party assures to fill up all vacant posts in the government departments, annual employment fairs and 80% jobs reservation for Himachal residents in industrial units.

CONGRESS: The party has promised 1.5 lakh jobs in the government and PSU sectors, policy to ensure more jobs in private sectors and making the skill development corporation’s working more efficient.

GST

GST has figured in the speeches of every leader, be it Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi or the state leaders. Both parties promise to increase threshold limit from ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh