BJP manifesto likely by April 7

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to release its election manifesto on Hindu New Year, however, a party source told the Millennium Post that the Prime Minister's office is yet to confirm.

In 2014, the manifesto was released only on the morning of the first day of polling for the first phase. Avoiding the erstwhile situation, the saffron party had launched a mega drive this time, in the month of February - 'Bharat Ke Mann Ki Beat' - where BJP has taken public opinion to make the final 'Sankalp Patra'.

Union Minister and former party president Rajnath Singh is the manifesto team chairman. Suggestions from citizens received in the boxes on the more than 300 mobile video raths and feedback received through other means like emails and public meeting-level consultations in all states are expected to be in by the end of March.

A 'Special Focus' on the growth of the economy, farmer's welfare and national security, nationalism is being given this time, party sources said.

In 2014 'Sankalp Patra', the party mentioned its intention to increase public spending on education, universalise secondary schooling (Class IX and above) and a range of reviews and reform of existing schemes and programmes.

Further, special emphasis was given on vulnerable children and especially those belonging to the vulnerable communities like SCs, STs, OBCs, migrants, slum dwellers, street dwellers and those with disabilities. Girl child education, public spending on education would be raised to 6 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and involving the private sector on this and other important issues were also in priority for the last Lok Sabha election.

But this time, the defence infrastructure, mechanism of tackling terrorism, employment generation etc. are likely to be part of the 'Sankalp Patra', confronting the opposition's election manifesto. Apart from the platform of the election campaign, BJP is likely to highlight the PM Kisan Nidhi Samman scheme.