Election manifesto: What BJP promised & delivered in 2014, 2019

The Modi-led dispensation has been contemplating a monumental change altering the country's official name to 'Bharat.'

The BJP released its manifesto, known as the "Sankalp Patra", for the Lok Sabha elections on April 14 with a focus on four "castes" - women, poor, youth and farmers.

In its manifesto, released in the presence of PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, the BJP reiterated its commitment towards implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and introducing "one nation, one election".

The party also extended various schemes for the poor, farmers and women and announced that the elderly above the age of 70 will be covered under the Ayushman Bharat healthcare insurance scheme.

The BJP also said the Ramayan Utsav will be celebrated across the world and promised more development in Ayodhya.

"In the last 10 years, BJP has implemented every aspect of its manifesto as a guarantee. BJP has restored the sanctity of the manifesto," PM Modi said at the release of the manifesto at the party's headquarters in New Delhi.

The statement does align with history since BJP did make good on most of its key poll promises in the last decade, including the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the withdrawal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

We revisit some of the key promises made by BJP in its last two "Sankalp Patras" and how it fulfilled them ...

BJP manifesto for Lok Sabha Polls 2019

With the tagline “Phir Ek Bar, Modi Sarkar”, the BJP manifesto ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election repeated some of its 2014 promises including 33 percent reservation for women, abrogation of Article 370, implementing the UCC and building the Ayodhya Ram temple.  The party also promised to eliminate practices such as Triple Talaq and Nikah Halala. The other key promises are as follows:

• Enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Bill

• Implementation of National Register of Citizens

•Zero-tolerance approach to terrorism

• Strengthening armed forces

• Interest-free Kisan credit card loan

• Combating infiltration

• Creating consensus on simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections

Could BJP fulfil most of its 2019 goals?

•The Supreme Court on August 22, 2017, declared the practice of Triple Talaq unconstitutional.

•In August 2019, the Narendra Modi regime revoked Article 370, which had given J&K significant autonomy.

• In September 2023, President Droupadi Murmu approved the women’s reservation Bill which sought to provide 33 percent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The legislation was passed in the new Parliament building.

• The Ayodhya Ram Mandir was inaugurated on January 22, 2024, after the first phase of the temple’s construction was made possible by a Supreme Court judgment in 2019 on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit. The Hindu litigants argued that the Babri Mosque was constructed at the site of a temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram.

The top court ruled that the disputed 2.77 acres in Ayodhya be awarded to the deity, Ram Lalla Virajman. The five-judge bench directed the Centre to establish a trust within three months to supervise and manage the construction of a temple on the site. PM Modi led the rituals of the  "Pran Pratishtha" ceremony as lakhs of people watched the live-telecast of the ceremony on their televisions.  Addressed a gathering of more than 7,000 people, the PM said, “Today, our Ram has arrived. After a long wait for ages, our Ram has arrived.”

• The Uniform Civil Code Bill, passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly on February 7, 2024, became a law with the President giving her assent.

• A panel headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind supported the concept of “One Nation One Election”.

• The Centre notified implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in March 2024.

BJP Manifesto for Lok Sabha Polls 2014

The BJP manifesto pledged “Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat - Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”. Here is what the party promised.

• Construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya

• Implementation of Uniform Civil Code

• Return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley

•Consensus building on abrogation of Article 370 in J&K

•Providing 33 percent reservation for women in parliamentary and state assemblies

•National healthcare programmes, delivery, medical education, and financing.

•Digitisation of government records

•Improving lives in rural India

•Launching a national campaign for saving the girl child and educating her

•Initiating process to bring back black money held abroad and setting up black money task force.

• Promised to double farmer incomes

•Empowering youth via self-employment

Delivery of 2014 promises

Ram temple: Several consultations were held to build the Ayodhya Ram temple. The Supreme Court had also ordered a mediation through a three-member panel

Women: The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme was launched in 2015

Health: Ayushman Bharat was launched

Black money: A task force was set up

Jobs: Financial schemes such as StartUp India and Skill India were launched

Digitisation: Digital India programme was launched to enable digital delivery of services to citizens

Improving rural life: Around 7 crore households received free LPG connections under the Ujjwala scheme.  Schemes such as Subhagya Yojana were launched

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