 "Congress manifesto 2014: Is it saying sorry for what UPA should have done earlier?")
Stale and uninspiring. That seems to be the initial reaction to the Congress’s manifesto for the 2014 elections. After waiting with non-bated breath, the Congress Party released its socio-economic manifesto this afternoon.
What does stand out is that the manifesto seems high on economic promises.
As CNBC TV18’s Latha Venkatesh pointed out, it seems like the manifesto is indirectly trying to apologise to an alienated business community who have pretty much lost faith in the Congress Party to deliver economic reforms and growth.
Economic growth has slumped below 5% and inflation has remained a persistent problem. Business investments have sagged, while both imports and exports are struggling. Indeed, in trying to renew the Congress appeal to India Inc, the manifesto is packed with promises of economic reform and growth.
Some of the pledges include:
10% growth in manufacturing
Minimum tariff for manufacturing
8% growth in the next three years
Fiscal deficit of 3 percent by fiscal 2017
Plan to create 100 million jobs
Plan to introduce Goods and Services Tax in 100 days of Parliament
(For more highlights of the manifesto, click here)The question is, they had 10 years to achieve exactly what they are promising in Manifesto 2014. Why didn’t they do all this earlier?
No wonder, no one (apart from party supporters) is greeting this manifesto with any enthusiasm.
Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, speaking to CNBC TV, slammed the manifesto, saying there was nothing inspiring about business and that there was a difference between what the Congress said and what they achieved ( Read more here).
One contentious issue in the manifesto is the possibility of a job quota for SC/ST in the private sector: the manifesto notes the Congress will seek consensus on this issue. Admittedly, this will be a contentious topic among politicians and businesses alike. But only if the Congress leads the government again.
All in all, this manifesto is not likely to become the killer manifesto that will bring the party into power for a third term.
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