One wonders why the BJP dragged its feet in releasing its manifesto. It is hardly impressive. It appears to follow some economic policies of the UPA which have proved failures. Its stance on social issues does not enhance its image. The party gives out little detail on its attitude to inflation and sluggish employment generation. On the whole, the BJP is pretty much in confusion on the Indian economy. For instance, the party thinks that the government should decide who will have extraction rights, the amount of resources that can be removed and fix the price. That is in line with the UPA’s alliance with crony capitalism. The manifesto favours infusion of foreign capital in all sectors except retail. Why retail should be singled out for shutting out FDI has not been spelt out. The message of the BJP seems to be that UPA economic policies were on right lines but they failed in implementation. This attitude is nothing new. The Vajpayee government also adopted almost in toto the economic reform programme of the preceding Narasimha Rao government.
There are however some redeeming features. The state point of view has been highlighted in the manifesto. The Centre-state relationship is crucial on many critical issues. Furthermore, the manifesto rightly stresses the need for developing labour-intensive manufacturing and tourism. It extends support to people who have recently risen above the ranks of the poor which is a step in the right direction. While the party is anxious to reassure the Muslims that they will not be discriminated against, it still advocates the building of a Ram temple in place of the demolished Babri mosque, albeit constitutionally. The BJP is aware that the NDA is unlikely to win an absolute majority in Parliament and consequently has no intention of rubbing any ally the wrong way. By and large, the manifesto offers no stimulus package economically or societally.
