Time to ditch Model Code of Conduct ? Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday released the Samajwadi Party’s much-awaited election manifesto, a short while after sealing an alliance with the Congress. Following are the highlights: - Children from the economically weaker sections in primary schools will be given 1 litre ghee and milk powder every month - Free medical services to those earning less than Rs 1.5 lakh a year - Establishment of Kishan Kosh or farmers' fund - Free smartphones under Samajwadi smart phone scheme - Rs 1,000 per month to 1 crore people under expansion of Samajwadi pension scheme - Free cycle to girls studying in class 9 to 12 - Nutritious diet to pregnant women at their place - Construction of Purvanchal expressway and Bundelkhand-Terai Expressway - River front development in prominent cities - Rs 10 lakh to lawyers, less than 60 years age, on untimely deaths - Samajwadi sports school for sports promotion - Old age homes for the elderly and 50% subsidy in bus fares for women - Electrification of every village in the state - Free wheat and rice to the poor, pressure cookers for poor women. Free laptops for students - A kisan kosh (treasury) to be initiated for the farmers - Strengthening the state’s Metro network. Akhilesh says the next state budget may be presented from inside a Metro train --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I leave it to you to judge / decide , which and how many of these promises , fall foul of the following guidelines of the Election Commission , which announced the UP election on 01 Jan , kicking in the Model Code of Conduct : On 22 Feb 2014 , following Supreme Court directives , the Election Commission , revised , " Model Code of Conduct " , containing guidelines on what kind of poll promises , political parties can incorporate in their poll manifestos GUIDELINES * Parties shall make only those promises which are possible to be fulfilled * It is expected that manifestos also reflect the rationale for the promises and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it * Party in power shall stop advertizing for publicity of achievements " ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do not wait with baited breath , for the release of Manifestos of other political parties ! In the above list , just change the party name and insert figures which are 50 % higher ! Do you see the " Late Mover Advantage " ? Have no worry ! No one will file a Public Interest Litigation in Supreme Court , which is over-occupied with Jallikattu ! And as far as the question of " ways and means of financial requirements " is concerned, Akhilesh Yadav has a top secret plan , viz : imposition of a 10 % " Wealth Transfer Tax " on those 57 Indian Billionaires with a total wealth of $ 216 Billion ( Rs. 15,12000 cr ) He is telling the voters of UP : " Why do you want to wait till 01 Feb budget of Shri Arun Jaitley-ji , to announce transfer of Rs 1500 to poor under Universal Basic Income ? " ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23 Jan 2017 www.hemenparekh.in / Blog # 1,000