Lucknow: Political parties in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh have gone all out to woo unemployed youths with job opportunities, doles and modern gadgets, even if it means making a complete U-turn for some of them.
Realising that youth votes could play an important role, political parties have addressed to their problems, specially relating to unemployment and skill development, treating them as a separate section in their respective election manifestos. Political parties believe that the main issue concerning the youths is education and employment and they would not vote for caste and religion considerations.
Samajwadi Party made a complete U-turn and tried to shed its anti-English and anti-computer image going against the stance adopted by party president Mulayam Singh Yadav.
"We are touted as anti-English and anti-computers by the media. We will provide laptops to intermediate and tablets to high school pass-outs," senior SP leader Ramgopal Yadav had said while releasing the manifesto. Targeting Muslim students, the Samajwadi manifesto also promised to introduce technical education in madarasas, aid to Muslim girls passing 10th standard or Rs 30,000 for their marriage.
Not to be left behind, the BJP too made an ambitious promise of creating one crore jobs in five years, besides loan of upto Rs 1 lakh on easy interest under Yuva Berozgar Credit Card and umemployment allowance of Rs 2,000 per month.
The party also announced to provide tablet computers for Rs 1,000 to secondary and intermediate students and laptop for Rs 5,000 to intermediate students.
While promising to constitute an Education Commission the party said that textbooks, school uniform and bag would be given to poor students upto intermediate level.
PTI