Ahmedabad: There are promises galore for voters in Ahmedabad East constituency with fringe political parties and Independent candidates promising justice for "aggrieved husbands" and "lavish" lifestyle for the poor in their manifestos.
Dashrath Devda, who runs an NGO 'Akhil Bhartiya Patni Atyachar Virodhi Sangh' and is an Independent candidate from Ahmedabad-East Lok Sabha seat, promises to bring an Act to protect men. "I promise to bring a law in favour of 'Dukhi Pati' (aggrieved husband). We have the Domestic Violence Act to protect women so why cannot we have a law which can protect men?..." Devda said.
Though he has applied to register his party but is yet to get the nod from the Election Commission. Devda has released a manifesto even though he is contesting as an Independent. "I promise to people here that I will bring section '498 (b)' to protect the rights of husbands," he said, adding that in some cases men are harassed too.
Section 498 (A) of IPC stands for the protection to women against domestic violence. "I go door-to-door and ask men if they are aggrieved with their wives and many of them respond positively. All those aggrieved husbands are extending their support to me," Devda said.
"I ask for Re 1 from people and if the person is sad and harassed due to his wife then he gives me the coin," Devda quipped. Devda claimed that he only takes Re 1 from people.
Ahmedabad-East constituency comprises Assembly segments of Dehgam, Gandhinagar South, Vatva, Nikol, Naroda, Thakkarbapa Nagar and Bapunagar. BJP has fielded Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal in the seat. Devda said he was banking on the support of almost 600 'Dukhi Patis' who he claimed would vote for him.
Devda is not alone when it comes to releasing manifestos. Prajatantra Adhar Party, known as PAP in the city, has fielded its nominee from the seat with the promise of implementing constitutional rights of people and considers Indian Constitution as its poll manifesto.
"Our party which has been established in 2012 did not release a manifesto like other parties. The Constitution as our party's manifesto," said PAP candidate Jaswant Buddhapriya. PAP was founded by a rights activist Rajesh Maurya who claims to help poor people avail medical services.
"We do not make any big promise like the big parties do. However, one promise we make is that if any person in our constituency falls ill, we will serve him like our relative," said Buddhapriya.
Bahujan Mukti Party is not behind from its peers as it promises lavish lifestyle to people even if they do not work. "We will provide salary of Rs 11,000, besides a lavish and dignified lifestyle to the poorest people in our Lok Sabha constituency," Bahujan Mukti Party's state secretary Vijay Daniel said.
When asked whether implementation of this promise is practical, he said, "We will bring back the black money which is stashed in Swiss banks and will use it to upgrade the lifestyle of the poor". Bahujan Mukti party has fielded its 13 candidates in state and 400 in the various seats of entire nation.
"If our party comes to power then we will not levy tax for next 30 years as we will use thousands of crores of black money for country's needs," Daniel added.
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