BJP Not Averse To 'Revdi'? It Could Pip AAP In Freebie Promises In Delhi Polls Manifesto

Despite PM Modi's criticism of "revdis", the BJP plans to offer significant freebies ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, sources told ABP News.

BJP could offer free schemes in water, electricity, travel, healthcare, etc.

Source : PTI

Ahead of the elections, the BJP could fall back on its criticism of "revdis" or freebies. If party sources are to be believed, the BJP is preparing to enter the Delhi Assembly elections ring with several big-ticket freebie announcements. The sources said that the BJP is planning to take on the AAP's free welfare schemes with its own set of freebie programmes

What Freebies Could BJP Promise For Delhi Election 2025? 

The BJP sources said the party is going to load its manifesto with "free" civic schemes. Among them would be electricity, water, travel, women's welfare, etc. 

Electricity: The BJP is planning to promise 300 units of electricity in its manifesto. If the meter reading is above 300 units, only the amount in excess of 300 units will have to be paid. (Eg: If the bill is generated for 305 units, only 5 units will have to be paid by the consumer.)

At present, the AAP government in Delhi provides free electricity of up to 200 units to households. A 50% subsidy is granted to homes subsidy, which are more than 200 but less than 400 units a month.

Water: The BJP is planning to keep the free water scheme in Delhi unchanged. Under this scheme, 20,000 litres of clean water is supplied to households without charge.

Daily Commute: The BJP is likely to extend the AAP government's free bus travel scheme to the elderly and students.

Healthcare: The BJP is likely to extend the Ayushman Bharat scheme to Delhi government-run hospitals or have a separate scheme for free treatment in Delhi to counter the AAP's Sanjeevani Yojana. 

Women's Welfare: To counter AAP's Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, the BJP could launch its own version of the direct-benefit-transfer scheme — Mahila Samman Nidhi.

Housing: BJP may also promise permanent houses to slum dwellers. Notably, the BJP-led Centre in 2015 had promised housing for all by 2022 under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

'Revdi Culture Dangerous': PM Modi In 2022 

In 2022, PM Narendra Modi had opposed the freebie culture, calling freebies "dangerous". “Today in our country, attempts are being made to collect votes by distributing free revdis (sweets). This revdi culture is very dangerous for the development of the country. People of the country, especially the youth, need to be careful of this revdi culture. People of revdi culture will not build expressways, airports or defence corridors for you," he said at a public meeting in UP's Jalaun.

Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, too, had slammed the AAP in 2022 for its free welfare schemes. He had said that the nation cannot be developed with "free" schemes.