A week ahead of the Karnataka Assembly Elections, the BJP released its manifesto on Friday. Both the incumbent Congress and the BJP are going the extra mile to woo the voters. Victory is crucial for the Congress as Karnataka is one of the few states with its government. A day after PM Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi both campaigned in the state, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa released the party manifesto. This comes nearly a week after the Congress released the party manifesto and said the party had fulfilled most of its poll promises. Today, both Modi and Gandhi will be addressing several public meetings in the state. UP CM Yogi Adityanath would also be campaigning in the state. Just a couple of days ago, Modi had attacked the Siddaramaiah government by alleging that farmers had not been benefited due to the apathy of the state government. Following are the highlights of the BJP manifesto:

We are committed to reducing the burden of debt on our Annadaatas. We will announce a crop loan waiver upto Rs1 Lakh, including all loans from Nationalised Banks and Co-operatives, in our first Cabinet Meeting for the benefit of our
Annadaatas #BJPVachana4Karnataka pic.twitter.com/NjctTIgIOx

— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 4, 2018

• Reducing the debt on Annadaatas (farmers). Crop loan waiver of up to Rs 1 lakh, including all loans from nationalised banks and cooperatives
• Direct income support of Rs 10,000 to 20 lakh dry land small and marginal farmers.
• Farmers would receive 1-1/2 times the cost of production as Minimum Support Price.
• Rs 1,50,000 cr for various irrigation projects to ensure water reaches every field.
• Rs 3,000 cr allocation for export of fruits and vegetables through Karnataka Milk Federation.
• Rs 3,000 cr Kamdhenu Fund for animal husbandry and dairy farming infrastructure.
• Rs 1,000 cr for expanding veterinary services.
• Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2012 will be reintroduced.
• Rs 5,000 cr fund under Raitha Bandhu Market Intervention Fund to aid farmers during price fluctuation.
• Raitha Bandu Department, under the CMO, to monitor farmer-friendly schemes.
• Accidental insurance cover of up to Rs 2 lakh for landless farm labourers.
• Rs 1.5L cr scheme to complete all irrigation projects by 2023.
• Mission Kalyani to rejuvenate all lakes and ponds.
• Three-phase power supply for farmers to operate their pump sets.
• Rs 100 crore fund to facilitate farmers’ children to pursue agriculture and allied sector courses.
• Get 1,000 farmers to travel to Israel and China every year to study best practices in agriculture.
• Develop crop specific strategies.
• Rs 10,000 cr Stree Unnati Fund for women’s cooperative.
• Loans of up to Rs 2 lakh for women-only Self Help Groups.
• A special Investigative Cell to work on crimes against women.
• Free sanitary napkins to women and girls Below Poverty Line and at Re 1 to others.
• Provide smartphones to women from Below Poverty Line families.
• A cover of up to Rs 5 lakh for poor families to get medical treatment.
• Two Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (like AIIMS).
• A Special Investment Summit for Hyderabad-Karnataka region every two years.
• Rs 25,000 cr to rejuvenate rivers and lakes in Bengaluru.
• Form flying squads to attend to women’s distress calls.
• Set up KIRTI Aayog to replace Karnataka Knowledge Commission and state planning commission.
• Hyderabad Karnataka Mega Corridor to be built from Hosapete to Hyderabad.
• 30 District- 30 Hub Mega Development Plan to be carried out through commitment to Inclusive Long-Term Vision of Development.

The BJP has, for the first time, prepared 225 manifestos; one for each constituency and a general one. The manifestos were prepared after an elaborate exercise of gathering ideas from the electorate in person, through mail and through social media. The Congress had released its manifesto, called the ‘Nava Karnataka Manifesto, late last month.