Shafaqna India: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unveiled a distinctive manifesto aimed at benefiting the middle-income group, focusing on demands rather than promises. The party outlined seven key demands it hopes to see in the Union Budget, which it believes will aid middle-class residents in Delhi.
The “Middle Class Manifesto” includes calls for tax exemptions up to Rs 10 lakh, an increase in the education budget from 2% to 10%, and other measures such as improved retirement plans, tax-free health insurance, and the nationwide regulation of private school fees. The AAP also advocates for subsidies and scholarships for higher education, all targeting the BJP’s core voter base: the middle class.
Unlike traditional manifestos that often offer freebies, AAP chose a different route this time. The freebie culture, which has been a defining feature of AAP’s approach in past elections, was notably absent in this document.
At the manifesto launch, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticized the government’s treatment of the middle class, describing it as a group that is consistently taxed but receives little in return. “The relationship between the government and the middle class is quite peculiar. They do nothing for the middle class, yet whenever they need something, they impose taxes on them,” Kejriwal said.
He further stated that the Indian middle class pays vast sums in taxes but receives little in return, calling them “just an ATM for the government.” Kejriwal added that the middle class is suffering from what he termed “tax terrorism” and is more burdened than any other population worldwide.
