India's First 'Middle-Class Poll Manifesto': AAP Places 7 Demands For Budget 2025

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released a manifesto targeting middle-class voters in Delhi's upcoming elections. The manifesto aims to reduce "tax terrorism" and ease financial burdens of the middle class.

Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Source : PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party has decided to go back to its core voter base — the middle class. The AAP has released a separate manifesto for middle-class families in Delhi ahead of the assembly elections scheduled in February.

While most political parties formulate poll promises based on the needs of the poor or on caste and religious equations, this is the first time, any party has issued a manifesto for the middle-class in India. The middle class, which is the largest tax-paying stratum in India, has often been overlooked by parties.

The AAP, which made its poll debut in 2014, sought to address this gap and came up as an alternative political party and paid direct attention to all the three perceived categories of middle class — upper middle class, middle class, and lower middle class. It sought to improve the education, transport, water, and health sectors — the areas with which the middle class is most concerned.

AAP's Demands For Middle-Class Voters Ahead Of Budget 2025

Releasing the manifesto for the middle class, the AAP convener said this category of people has become a victim of "tax terrorism". "This class comprises of teachers, lawyers, salaried employees, and from other professions... A middle-class person, earning Rs 10-12 lakh, has to pay myriad taxes on his income. The government forces him to pay income tax, cess, road tax, and a lot more," he said.

"For a young couple, family planning has become a financial decision... The government can spend the tax earnings for either people's welfare or giving out doles as loan waivers to its corporate friends. Our AAP government in Delhi chose the first option and focused on education and health... Nearly four lakh children moved from private to government schools under our government, which is unheard of," Kejriwal said.

He said that the government increased the supply of water and electricity and reduced their rates using taxpayers' money. He said the Delhi government also focused on senior citizens. Kejriwal further said that if elected, his government would continue and even enhance the existing schemes and focus more on the middle class. 

Kejriwal said: "We demand that the nation's next Budget is dedicated to the middle class."

He then went on to place seven demands ahead of the Budget 2025:

• Education Budget must be increased from 2% to 10% of the GDP and private school fees are capped.
• Subsidies and scholarships are granted for higher education.
• Health Budget must be increased to 10% of the GDP and health insurance must be freed from taxes
• Income Tax exemption slab mustbe increased from Rs 7 lakh to 10 lakh.
• Essential commodities must be made GST-free.
• Senior citizens must get the benefits of strong pension and retirement plans.
• Railway concessions for senior citizens must be reintroduced.

He urged people to support the AAP's demands for the middle class at middleclassmanifesto.com.