Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda has announced the Election Manifesto Committee for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at its helm. The committee includes notable figures such as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as convener and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal as co-convener.


Other members appointed to the committee are Bhupender Yadav, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Kiren Rijiju, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupender Patel, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Vishnu Deo Sai, Mohan Yadav, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Vasundhara Raje, Smriti Irani, Jual Oram, Ravishankar Prasad, Sushil Modi, Keshav Prasad Maurya, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Vinod Tawde, Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, O.P. Dhankar, Anil Antony, and Tariq Mansoor.






Defence Minister Rajnath Singh On Electoral Bonds


Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has expressed support for electoral bonds, describing it as a significant step towards reducing the influence of black money in Indian politics. Speaking at the ABP Shikhar Sammelan 2024, Singh emphasised the importance of transparency in electoral funding.


Singh stated, "The decision was taken so that the influence of black money on Indian politics can be minimised to an extent. All the information demanded by the apex court has been provided."


Furthermore, Singh highlighted the potential implications of revealing voter information, noting that demands for such disclosure may arise in the future. He underscored the need for transparency in political financing, asserting, "Now that the data of electoral bonds are out, the demands for the disclosure of who voted for whom may be pushed shortly."


Regarding concerns about maintaining a level playing field and preventing undue influence by the ruling party, Singh reiterated the importance of transparency brought about by the disclosure of electoral bond data. He stated, "Now everyone knows which party received how much money. It is clear. It is not confidential anymore."


Singh refrained from commenting on the Supreme Court's verdict regarding the transparency of electoral bonds but emphasised the significance of making the information public to curb the influence of illicit funds in Indian politics. More On It: 'Next, Voters Might Be Asked To Reveal Ballot Choice': Rajnath On Electoral Bonds At ABP Shikhar Sammelan