Political News: AAP promises free power if voted to power in BMC polls

Promises of free power, water supply and free travel to women in BEST buses, along with free mohalla clinics-the Aam Aadmi party is going all out to woo the Mumbai electorate in the 2021 Mumbai civic polls. The AAP which has made inroads in the Zilla Parishad and panchayat polls is now working to make a dent in the Mumbai civic polls to be held in late February next year. The AAP is giving final touches to its manifesto that is meant to give other parties in the fray like the Shiv Sena, BJP, Congress and NCP plenty to ponder.

“If we are voted to power, we would give 200 units of electricity free to residential consumers that come under BEST. We are also saying that women should be allowed free travel in BEST buses and we would set up Mohalla clinics after 1 kilometre where there would be free testing as well as treatment,” said National Executive member of the AAP, Preeti Sharma Menon. The AAP leader said that the party is also planning to provide water up to a certain limit free to residents in the city.

The AAP leader said that these were not freebies and the BMC could afford to pay it. “What we are talking about is doable. We have proved it in Delhi. In Delhi, the total bill of such announcements comes to only Rs 2,000 crore per year. Thousands of people in Mumbai do not have access to basic health care and our plan for free tests and treatment through clinics is going to benefit them,” said Menon. She also said that the AAP will completely upgrade the municipal schools in Mumbai on par with private schools as they had done in Delhi.

Menon said that they are not just counting on the freebies but also on the work during the pandemic helping out labourers as well those who need monthly rations. “We have a lot of goodwill among the people. We believe that there is a space for a secular party in Mumbai and Maharashtra as the Congress and NCP have aligned with the Shiv Sena and there is BJP on the other end, so there is space for a secular party,” said Menon to ET.