Thiruvananthapuram: With Kerala heading to Assembly elections, the BJP has released its manifesto aimed at attracting women voters, alongside a set of promises on health, jobs and infrastructure.
Polling for all 140 constituencies is scheduled for April 9. The contest is expected to be triangular among the ruling Left Democratic Front led by the CPI(M), the Congress-led United Democratic Front, and the BJP.
The manifesto, released in Thiruvananthapuram by BJP national president Nitin Nabin in the presence of state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and NDA allies, is framed under the goal of building an “advanced Kerala”.
Key welfare pledges include a monthly ₹3,000 assistance for women and a ₹2,500 monthly recharge card for grocery and medical expenses for economically weaker sections and families below the poverty line, under the name “Pakshaya Arogya”. The party also promised one free LPG cylinder per poor family during Onam and Christmas.
On governance and development, the BJP promised an AIIMS hospital, a CBI investigation into the alleged disappearance of gold at Sabarimala, restructuring Devaswom boards to increase devotees’ role in temple administration, and steps to curb corruption in temples. It also proposed a “Sabarimala Infrastructure Development Plan”, upgrading Vizhinjam port into an industrial hub, a semi high-speed rail corridor from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur, and positioning Thiruvananthapuram as an IT and innovation capital.
