"Maharashtra govt will work ahead on principles of secularism": NCP MP Sunil Tatkare after party releases manifesto

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 6 (ANI): After Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Ajit Pawar released election manifesto for Maharashtra Assembly polls, party MP Sunil Tatkare on Wednesday assured that the state government will work ahead on the principles of secularism.
"Maharashtra is a progressive state and its economic condition in good...The state govt has given a lot of benefits to women and also to farmers...I assure you that the Maharashtra government will work ahead on the principles of secularism," Tatkare said to the media.
Meanwhile, the NCP also unveiled constituency-specific manifestos for all the assembly seats it is contesting.
The manifestos were released simultaneously in different cities. NCP National President and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar led the release in his home constituency Baramati, while State President Sunil Tatkare released the manifesto in Mumbai, and Working President Praful Patel released it in Gondiya. NCP candidates and local leaders released the poll manifestos in their respective constituencies across all the assembly constituencies.
Pawar unveiled the party's state-level manifesto and constituency manifesto for Baramati and said "We will present the 'New Maharashtra Vision' within 100 days of government formation."
In its manifesto, the party has promised to increase the amount under 'Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' from the existing Rs 1,500 per month to Rs 2,100 per month. This initiative will be the largest monthly Direct Benefit Transfer in Maharashtra's history providing benefits of Rs 25,000 per year to over 2.3 crore women.
Also, the manifesto consists of 11 new promises, increasing the old age pension from Rs1500 to Rs2100 per month. For farmers, the party has promised to raise the Shetkari Sanman Nidhi from Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 per year, combining support from both the central and state governments.
Pawar has also promised to waive the farmer's loan and give a 20 per cent additional subsidy for all crops sold under MSP. Besides this, NCP has also given assurance of Rs25000 per hectare bonus for paddy farmers.
Other commitments included in the manifesto are the creation of 2.5 million jobs and the provision of a monthly stipend of Rs10,000 to 1 million students through training, Rs15,000 monthly salary for Anganwadi and ASHA workers, a reduction in electricity bills by 30 per cent while prioritizing solar and renewable energy.
The Maharashtra assembly elections are set for November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies scheduled for November 23. (ANI)