The BJP-Shiv Sena manifesto hits the populist bar with a sop series. While the Congress readies its star cast and prepares for a Sonia-Pawar show, Raj Thackeray has one-minute films lampooning the Government.

BJP-SHIV SENA MANIFESTO
Saffron Sop Story for Voters

PICTURE SPEAK

(From left) Mahajan, Uddhav Thackeray and G. Munde

Jai jawan, jai kisan and jai kamgar. The Shiv Sena-BJP alliance has gone populist with a bang. It launched its campaign with a joint manifesto, promising besides the usual freebies for farmers-free power and loan waivers-a special series of sops for mill workers and assistance for the kin of slain soldiers.

For the strike-affected textile worker: all dues will be recovered from the mill owners, and even a law will be enacted for this. There will be a provision to accommodate workers' children in new industries coming up on the site of closed mills. For the relatives of fallen soldiers: reservations in government jobs. "This is not a declaration," says senior BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. "It is a pledge."

Some old promises have been rehashed, with the Shiv Sena once again vowing to house 40 lakh slum dwellers in Mumbai. The icons of both parties are given their rightful place in the manifesto-Chhatrapati Shivaji's statue will be installed at the Raigad fort and a memorial "Shivsrushti" will be set up in Mumbai. A flame of freedom will be raised in Maharashtra. It will be similar to the one at the Cellular Jail in the Andamans, but this time with Veer Savarkar's quotes intact.

-By Sandeep Unnithan

STAR CAMPAIGN
Cast for the Big Show

PICTURE SPEAK

TAKE TWO: (Left) Vajpayee and Sonia

Both the BJP and the Congress are lining up their star cast for the Big Maharashtra showdown. The Congress is as usual relying on its chief crowdpuller Sonia Gandhi, who will campaign for four days, breaking it into two rounds of two days each. Though the schedule is yet to be finalised, a Sonia-Pawar joint show is on the cards in the first stage itself. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will also make his rounds. The BJP, meanwhile, is saving its dual act for the end, with the grand finale being an A.B. Vajpayee-Bal Thackeray rally. Vajpayee will spend five days campaigning in the state.

The Gandhi Gen-Next will also be on display, with both Rahul and Feroze Varun finalising their itineraries. The BJP platter offers a new, improved, no-frills version of Pramod Mahajan along with L.K. Advani and the female trinity of Sushma Swaraj, Vasundhara Raje and Uma Bharati.

-By Priya Sahgal

GOING HI-TECH
Telly View

Thackeray

If you thought Raj Thackeray was sidelined, think again. He is honing his satirical skills, designing the audio-visual campaign for the BJP-Shiv Sena. Thackeray may have taken a swipe at Pramod Mahajan's hi-tech canvassing in the Lok Sabha elections with, "Ours is a haath-tek (folded hands) campaign." But the Sena leader and cartoonist has decided to do more than fold his hands. His six one-minute films lampooning the Congress-NCP Government will soon hit the idiot box.

-By Sandeep Unnithan

Index