The major election manifestos, which contain lots of promises, are now public documents. These manifestos tell us about the parties and the picture that emerges of Indian democracy.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, National Spokesperson of the Congress Party, said, "We haven’t just promised everything out, we have the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act with 3.5 crore jobs that gives food security. We intend to fulfill our promises if we come in power."

Nilotpal Basu of Communist Party Marxist, said," There is a need of public distribution system and should be universalized because this whole notion of poverty line and the way it is calculated, is against the poor in the country."

Commenting on providing 35 kg of rice or wheat to below poverty line (BPL) families, Sudheendra Kulkarni, Election Strategist of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),  said, "We believe that right to food especially for the poor is the fundamental right and political parties and governments have a moral constitutional duty to secure food security for the poor."

Premshankar Jha, Author and Commentator, said"  I think the measure adopted by the parties to give grains at cheaper rate is a populist arrangement. The quantum of populism is reflected by the amount that you are offering."   

Sharing his view on the manifestos release by the parties, Yogendra Yadav, Political Analyst and Psychologist said," There are two options either you improve the system in which people get better delivery in general or you come up with short-term ad hoc measures, where you visibly give something to those who get nothing otherwise."