The NCP's Manifesto

The Nationalist Congress Party’s election manifesto talks about amending the Constitution to ensure a fixed-term parliament to avoid mid-term polls. NCP president Sharad Pawar said that the atmosphere this year is much better for the Centre’s UPA government than the last Lok Sabha polls in 2004 as the country has made progress in various sectors. Since there is a possibility of fractured mandate and emergence of hung parliament, the NCP wants a national-level debate regarding its suggestion for a fixed-term parliament. Speaking at a programme to release the party’s manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, Pawar announced several populist measures. Listing various measures taken by the UPA government to tackle the economic slowdown, he said massive progress had been made in the agriculture sector and good prices were being offered to farmers in order to help the country survive the slowdown. This has raised purchasing power of the rural population, especially farmers. Pawar wants a permanent anti-dumping authority to be set up to take care of dumping of material by other countries. He said the NCP is in favour of bringing out funds hidden in Swiss banks by Indians but wants the authorities to study the legal implications. Known for his social engineering, Pawar wants to give reservation in jobs and educational institutions for Marathas, Muslims and the Dhangar community. However, he clarified that these reservations will be in addition to the existing 52% reservation for the SC, ST and OBCs in the state. The NCP wants the banking regulations to be amended so that cooperative banks in the country could function as regular banks. the party will also back the move to protect labour rights to go on strike as a part of the labour policy. Pawar said his party is also in favour of smaller states and supports the formation of Vidarbha and Telengana states, provided such news states will become viable economic entities.