Across the aisle: Congress manifesto takes battle to BJP | The Indian Express

Across the aisle: Congress manifesto takes battle to BJP | The Indian Express

Written by P Chidambaram |New Delhi |Updated: April 7, 2019 12:05:03 am

P Chidambaram is former Finance minister of India.

Across the aisle: Congress manifesto takes battle to BJP

The BJP has not released its manifesto yet. The first phase of polling is on April 11, barely four days from Sunday. I suspect that the BJP is revising its draft manifesto hurriedly to counter the Congress’s. That is good. Let the BJP engage in a battle of ideas.

United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, center, with Congress Party President Rahul Gandhi, center right, with other leaders release Congress party’s manifesto for the upcoming general elections, in New Delhi, India, April 2, 2019. India’s general elections are scheduled to be held in seven phases starting from April 11. Votes will be counted on May 23. Neeraj Priyadarshi

A 54-page document has set the cat among the pigeons. That the BJP is a flock of pigeons — ignore the boast about a 56-inch chest — was proved by the apoplectic fit that seized the BJP after the release of the Congress party’s Election Manifesto (CEM) for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.