Shiv Sena (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray released his party's manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly elections. The Vachan Nama (manifesto), assuring free education for male students, stabilising prices of essential items and scrapping of the Dharavi redevelopment project.
While releasing the manifesto, Uddhav Thackeray said that most of the poll promises made by Shiv Sena (UBT) are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi's overall assurances but some points need special attention. Thackeray said the MVA, which comprises the Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP), will also launch its manifesto for the assembly polls. The manifesto also promised to implement the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), free travel for women in public transport buses and promised to do away with the 50 per cent cap on reservations, if the MVA comes to power.
Under the OPS, retired government employees get a fixed and assured monthly pension. The pension under the old pension scheme was linked to the Dearness Allowance (DA), ensuring that it is adjusted according to inflation. The pension amount is typically 50 per cent of the last drawn salary and guaranteed for life. There are provisions for a family pension for dependents after the death of the pensioner as well. On the Dharavi redevelopment project, Uddhav Thackeray said that it would be scrapped as the project will have ramifications on Mumbai. He also said that Maharashtra and Mumbai will also have a housing policy keeping urbanisation in mind.
Former Maharashtra CM further said if the MVA comes to power, the cluster development of Koliwadas (fishing community settlements) and Gaothans (villages) will be scrapped. He added that the redevelopment will be done after taking the residents into confidence. On the issue of jobs, he added that job fairs will be held in each district every three months and an International Finance Centre will be established in the state.