Parties in Haryana are going all out to promise voters the moon ahead of polls. The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) led by former chief minister Om Prakash Chautala was first off the block with its manifesto released over a month ago. The ruling Congress took its time but came out with a mammoth 34-page document. The Haryana Janhit Party (HJC), led by Kuldeep Bishnoi, son of former chief minister Bhajan Lal, too considers itself a contender for power and came out with promises galore. The BJP, which has decided to go alone in the Assembly elections, has modelled its manifesto on the policies of the party. If the Congress has promised bicycles to all girls to enable them to go to school, the INLD has something better for them — a scooter for each student after she completes Class XII. The promises held out by the four major parties on four major sectors :

Electricity

For the state which remains chronically short of electricity with up to 20 hours of power cuts daily, this is the most important issue. Rural areas are among the worst hit during the seasons when power is required the most. Trade and industry continues to suffer almost throughout the year while even the domestic consumers rarely come across any day when there is no power cut down. The Congress has promised to make the state power surplus by 2012-2013. The INLD, meanwhile, has promised 24 hours electricity for all and assured 5,000 MW of additional power within five years. The BJP’s promise includes 24-hour power supply and nuclear-based projects to overcome shortage. The HJC shall give 20 hours of electricity supply within one year of forming the government.

... contd.