AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday launched his party’s manifesto for the upcoming Delhi elections, emphasizing initiatives for the middle class—a demographic he claims has been neglected by successive governments. Kejriwal accused other political parties of treating the middle class as “just an ATM for the government,” promising to advocate for their welfare.
“The middle class in India is being crushed under the burden of taxes. They are victims of tax terrorism, paying huge taxes but receiving little in return. This group is not on the agenda of any political party,” Kejriwal said during the manifesto launch.
“आज मैं प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी से Middle Class के लिए सात मांगें कर रहा हूं। इन्हें देश और मिडिल क्लास के हित में लागू किया जाए।”@ArvindKejriwal
अगर आप भी हमारी मांगों का समर्थन करते हैं तो हमारी Website पर जाकर अपनी आवाज बुलंद करेंhttps://t.co/lWmvhzn8Td… pic.twitter.com/t1vS6o6QkS
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 22, 2025
Highlighting his government’s track record, Kejriwal pointed to initiatives like the Sanjeevani scheme, which focuses on providing better healthcare and welfare for the elderly in Delhi. He stressed that taxpayers’ money should directly benefit taxpayers, dismissing criticism that such measures amount to “freebies.”
अगला बजट Middle Class को समर्पित हो
“हम Middle Class को आगे बढ़ाने के लिए सड़क से लेकर संसद तक आवाज़ उठायेंगे। संसद में बजट सत्र के दौरान हमारे सांसद मिडिल क्लास के मुद्दों के लिए आवाज़ बुलंद करेंगे।
हम ये मांग करते हैं कि देश का अगला बजट देश के मिडिल क्लास को समर्पित हो।”… pic.twitter.com/SlTCMUiAka
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 22, 2025
“When such schemes are implemented in foreign countries, we admire them. But when we do the same in India, it’s labelled as freebies. Using voters’ money for their benefit leads to the growth of the country,” Kejriwal added.
“दिल्ली के गरीबों और Middle Class के लोगों को महंगाई की मार से बचाने के लिए AAP सरकार ने बिजली-पानी मुफ़्त कर दी।
हमने शानदार मोहल्ला क्लीनिक और अस्पताल बनाए और मुफ़्त इलाज की व्यवस्था की। आने वाले दिनों में हम बुजुर्गों के लिए संजीवनी योजना लेकर आ रहे हैं। यह सब करके क्या हम… pic.twitter.com/kcuFuowkBe
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 22, 2025
Seven Demands for the Centre
The manifesto outlined seven key demands that the AAP government intends to push at the national level to improve the lives of the middle class:
Increase in Education Budget: Raise the allocation from 2 percent to 10 percent of GDP and regulate private school fees.
Subsidies for Higher Education: Introduce subsidies to make higher education more accessible to middle-class families.
Health Budget Expansion: Increase health expenditure to 10 percent of GDP and remove taxes on health insurance.
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Income Tax Relief: Raise the income tax exemption limit from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
GST Removal on Essentials: Eliminate GST on essential commodities.
Pension Plan for Senior Citizens: Implement a robust pension plan for senior citizens.
Railway Concession: Provide a 50 percent fare concession for senior citizens on railways.
Call for Middle-Class Budget
Kejriwal urged the central government to present a dedicated budget for the middle class, promising that AAP Members of Parliament would raise these demands in Parliament in the coming weeks.
“आज देश में Middle Class के लोगों को अपना परिवार चलाने में बहुत मुश्किलें आ रही हैं, इन सभी परेशानियों के कारण ही हर साल लाखों भारतीय देश छोड़कर विदेशों में बस रहे हैं।
दिल्ली में आम आदमी पार्टी की सरकार ने जनता के पैसे को जनता पर ख़र्च किया। हमने जनता के Tax के पैसों को शिक्षा… pic.twitter.com/hoD8X7u2Tf
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 22, 2025
The 70-member Delhi Assembly is set to go to polls on February 5, with results to be declared on February 8. The elections are expected to be a triangular contest between the ruling AAP, the BJP, and the Congress. Facing allegations of corruption, the AAP is aiming for a third consecutive term in office.
With this manifesto, AAP seeks to strengthen its connection with the middle class, presenting a vision focused on economic relief and welfare for taxpayers and senior citizens.
