BJP to release its election manifesto tomorrow

Udupi, Apr 20 (UNI) BJP would release its manifesto tomorrow for the ensuing assembly elections to Karnataka, former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa today said.

Talking to mediapersons here, he said the manifesto would include several welfare measures, such as, increase in the income limit for Below Poverty Line (BPL) families from the present Rs 11,800 to Rs 30,000 and that of poor families annual income limit to Rs 60,000 from Rs 30,000. Extension of 'Free Bicycle' to all students would also be included, he added.

Mr Yeddyurappa said the party would extend Rs two per kg rice and other benefits like Health Insurance scheme to Coffee Plantation labourers, autorickshaw drivers and labourers in the unorganised sector.

The BJP leader said the party had also taken a decision to extend ''Mangalsootra'' scheme for temples and mutts organising mass marriage programmes. The party had also decided to allot Rs 500 crore for relief measures and support price during draught or damage to crops due to torrential rains, he added.

He said the party would provide Rs two per litre milk to the farmers engaged in dairying activities, as incentive, if the party was voted to power.

Mr Yeddyurappa said the party had cleared names of 198 candidates of the total 224 and the state unit had sent a list of additional eight names to the party high command for clearance, which was expected to be announced tonight. Of all the names cleared by the high command, there was dissidence only in three or four constituencies, including Puttur in Daxina Kannada, he added.

He said there would be no dissidence activities and whatever the differences existed in some constituencies would be sorted out before the election.

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