BJP pre-poll populism to cost UP exchequer Rs 55,000 crore

Lucknow

The thumping victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh (UP) Assembly elections is not without its set of post-poll challenges for the saffron outfit.

In the run-up to the high-stakes elections, the ruling BJP, as also other parties, had made a range of populist pre-poll promises to woo the electorate in order to gain an upper hand at the hustings.

Now, with UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath set to be sworn in for a second consecutive term, senior state officials have already started to work on the roadmap of fulfilling the pre-poll promises dished out by the party ahead of polls.

According to sources, the populist schemes announced by the BJP in its UP manifesto or ‘Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra’ would need a humongous budgetary allocation of more than Rs 55,000 crore. The various populist schemes relate to different sectors, viz. agriculture, social security, dairy, sugarcane, infrastructure, skill development, employment etc.

Interestingly, the estimated expenditure would be in addition to the general public welfare schemes run by the state government.

According to the 2022 manifesto, the BJP government would invest Rs 25,000 crore in setting up a network of cold chains and warehouses for grading of horticultural crops so that farmers get remunerative prices under the proposed Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Agri-infrastructure Mission.

At the same time, Rs 10,000 crore will be incurred on another infra scheme, while Rs 5,000 crore would be spent on farm irrigation. Further, the party has promised to roll out a mega Rs 5,000-crore modernization scheme for sugar mills to enrich the agro value chain.

Meanwhile, Adityanath is expected to take the oath of office on March 25 in Lucknow in the presence of a gallery of top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

In December 2021, ahead of UP elections, the Adityanath government had presented an Interim Budget for UP of more than Rs 5.48 trillion for the 2022-23 financial year.

Now, with Yogi Adityanath cabinet 2.0 set to take over the reins of UP, the BJP government will present a full Budget in the coming months, which would detail the blueprint of raising the financial resources to meet the estimated expenses on the pre-poll sops.

An Interim Budget ensures that ongoing development projects as well as sundry government expenditure are not impeded during elections as the process of new government formation is underway and the model code of conduct is in force.

Besides, the Adityanath government, in the Interim Budget, had sought grants, through a vote on account, for only Rs 1.68 trillion effective for the first four months (Apr-July) of 2022-23, so that adequate financing from the consolidation funds are available for the new government before a full Budget is tabled in the legislature.