Delhi polls: BJP to counter AAP’s 70-point manifesto with ‘Vision 2050’ document

New Delhi:  Facing its biggest electoral test since the landslide victory in the Lok Sabha polls 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying out novel methods to emerge victorious in the high-stakes battle for Delhi.

To counter the Aam Aadmi Party’s 70-point manifesto for Delhi, the BJP is likely to release a vision document for the city on Monday, just five days before the national capital goes to polls.

The vision document 2050 will feature a roadmap for the development of the city in line with Prime Minister’s vision to turn India into a developed country where all strata of the society will benefit from the fruits of his pro-development policies of his government at the Centre.

Indications suggest that the vision document will be released by party chief Amit Shah at party HQ today.

Elaborating on the vision document, BJP’s CM candidate Kiran Bedi said, “This will be a vision for 2050, a vision for Delhi to become a world class city. Tremendous team work will be seen, will be in interest of every 'Delhi walla'. It will be a vision which will be implemented completely.”

Bedi had earlier also shared a blueprint for Delhi's development on her social media account, beginning with a 25 point action plan for women's safety.

Bedi’s action plan includes measures like increased and smart patrolling in vulnerable areas, community policing and neighbourhood watch, safe and healthy nightlife – strengthening of patrolling and police presence in entertainment areas/hubs, stringent driver verification and state-wide centralized criminal database with inter-state coordination, CCTV cameras in public areas and buses, home guards and civil defence escorts on buses on vulnerable routes and at non-peak times, more ladies-special buses by DTC, street lighting in all areas with surprise inspections and full city accountability, self-defence training to be a part of school and college curriculum with a special emphasis on martial arts.

Value education in schools and colleges, safety kits including pepper spray, whistles, etc. to be handed out to women, gender sensitivity training to police, punishments for crime against women to be widely publicised, laws and punitive action related to women’s security to be strictly enforced are some of the other points in her action plan for Delhi.

The former IPS officer has also charted out some corrective measures like quick FIR and lodging of complaints, a 24/7 special call/response centre for women’s security to be set up, every district to have a dedicated Police Station for women, special women’s security force, sensitive handling of medical & other tests related to crimes on women–hospitals to be trained, special cells organised, all existing private SOS apps on mobile apps (such as of the radio taxis and other apps) to be linked to Delhi Police, support groups for victims and their families and setting up of fast track courts.

Kiran Bedi is contesting the polls from Krishna Nagar constituency in East Delhi against Aam Aadmi Party candidate SK Bagga.

The BJP has put its entire might behind Kiran Bedi to ensure party’s victory in face of the stiff challenge posed by Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party.

The party plans to deploy over 1 lakh booth-level officers to ensure that its vision for the city is communicated effectively to the electorate. Over 1000 posters highlighting the BJP’s achievement will also be put up in each constituency.

The entire top leadership of the party including almost all union ministers, over 120 MPS and office bearers have been roped in to ensure that nothing is left to chance.

The BJP has reasons to worry given the fear that the Delhi state unit may not wholeheartedly support Kiran Bedi as her anointment as CM candidate has come at the expense of the aspirations of many state leaders.

To get the message of unity across to all party leaders and workers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading from the front and spearheading the poll campaign. He has already addressed two rallies and is scheduled to speak at two more before February 7 when Delhi will vote 70 members to its assembly.

The results will be announced on February 10.