BJP Plays Election Trump Cards.!
The BJP, which has often stated its reluctance to provide direct freebies for votes, appears to be indirectly offering benefits as election season approaches. Several decisions were made during a recent central cabinet meeting ahead of upcoming elections. One significant move is a 4% increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) for over 50 lakh central government employees and twice as many pensioners, effective from January.
Though the implementation is typically decided in the coming months, it has been expedited this time due to the election, potentially influencing around 10 crore votes in favour of the BJP. Additionally, the extension of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana's Rs. 300 subsidy on cooking gas cylinders for another year has been approved. This move, benefiting 10.27 crore beneficiaries with up to 12 cylinders per year, could garner positive votes for the BJP, potentially exceeding 30 crore votes.
The Modi government has also targeted the North-Eastern states with a Rs. 10,037 crore scheme called 'Unnati-2024,' aimed at promoting industries in the region. This initiative is expected to create jobs and boost employment, potentially securing substantial votes for the BJP.
Furthermore, the Union cabinet has given the green light to the 'AI Mission,' allocating Rs. 10,372 crores for the comprehensive development and research of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country. This initiative aims to attract intellectuals and software professionals by focusing on youth training, innovation centers, and computing infrastructure, potentially drawing significant support for the BJP.