Supreme Court of India has commented that Freebies promise to voters should be checked by election commission as this affects the voters. This appears okay on the face but this raises more questions than answers. After all what is election manifesto and what a voter would look in this. An election manifesto without some promises to voters cannot be conceived. why should a voter support a political party in preference to others if there is no promise to him in the manifesto. It may be said that general policy and plans that would benefit all equally may be in manifesto. Then what about ending gender and case injustice. Will gender justice not affect weaker sex and the caste justice the weaker castes. As a matter of fact, no political party can campaign nor will voters listen if there is no promise to them.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Political-parties-shouldnt-promise-freebies-to-voters-SC/articleshow/20924813.cms

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/1857545/report-freebie-parties-to-be-polled-out

If promises (false promises) can attract voters and bring them to polling booths in favor of that particular party, it's not the party's fault but voter's. If he is dumb enough to be trapped that way, it's his outlook and he certainly deserves the treatment meted out to him. Voter must know about his rights and also what is wrong and right for him.

In the rural areas they don't even need an election manifesto, a couple of hundred rupees and some liquor just before the election is enough to win thevotesof an entire village...y

In the rural areas they don't even need an election manifesto, a couple of hundred rupees and some liquor just before the election is enough to win thevotesof an entire village...y

best solution to solve this problem is to educate voters.

If promises (false promises) can attract voters and bring them to polling booths in favor of that particular party, it's not the party's fault but voter's. If he is dumb enough to be trapped that way, it's his outlook and he certainly deserves the treatment meted out to him. Voter must know about his rights and also what is wrong and right for him.

Promises are generally not false. Voters even get their quota of liqueur during electioneering. U.P. C.M. is fulfilling promise of laptop to students. Promises will always be there in manifesto. It is also a fact that those given in manifesto are seldom unlawful. The unlawful ones are promised only privately and the lawful are included in manifesto.

The best thing that election commission can do is to scrutinize the manifesto to see whether anything contained therein is against letter and spirit of constitution and law or public policy. Beyond this, it is between voters and political parties.

If promises (false promises) can attract voters and bring them to polling booths in favor of that particular party, it's not the party's fault but voter's. If he is dumb enough to be trapped that way, it's his outlook and he certainly deserves the treatment meted out to him. Voter must know about his rights and also what is wrong and right for him.

Promises are generally not false. Voters even get their quota of liqueur during electioneering. U.P. C.M. is fulfilling promise of laptop to students. Promises will always be there in manifesto. It is also a fact that those given in manifesto are seldom unlawful. The unlawful ones are promised only privately and the lawful are included in manifesto.

The best thing that election commission can do is to scrutinize the manifesto to see whether anything contained therein is against letter and spirit of constitution and law or public policy. Beyond this, it is between voters and political parties.

Laptop to students is a long term vote catching plan. These students are being bribed to reach to the polling booths keeping in mind, who gave them a laptop. So were saris to women, lanterns to poor villagers and so on so forth. Why do they not announce such schemes when in power, why are these schemes limited to election manifestos? Who authorised them to spend so much in non-plan expenditure, did they get consent of the taxpayers to waste their hard earned money for their personal gain?

If promises (false promises) can attract voters and bring them to polling booths in favor of that particular party, it's not the party's fault but voter's. If he is dumb enough to be trapped that way, it's his outlook and he certainly deserves the treatment meted out to him. Voter must know about his rights and also what is wrong and right for him.

Promises are generally not false. Voters even get their quota of liqueur during electioneering. U.P. C.M. is fulfilling promise of laptop to students. Promises will always be there in manifesto. It is also a fact that those given in manifesto are seldom unlawful. The unlawful ones are promised only privately and the lawful are included in manifesto.

The best thing that election commission can do is to scrutinize the manifesto to see whether anything contained therein is against letter and spirit of constitution and law or public policy. Beyond this, it is between voters and political parties.

Laptop to students is a long term vote catching plan. These students are being bribed to reach to the polling booths keeping in mind, who gave them a laptop. So were saris to women, lanterns to poor villagers and so on so forth. Why do they not announce such schemes when in power, why are these schemes limited to election manifestos? Who authorised them to spend so much in non-plan expenditure, did they get consent of the taxpayers to waste their hard earned money for their personal gain?

There can always be difference of opinion on legitimacy and propriety of promises made in manifesto. But the fact remains that a manifesto is intended to state policy of party, promises and other matter so as to convince voters to vote in favor. As regards tax payers' contribution, this is part of government funds. A tax payer is also just a citizen and he gets no better rights than poor non tax paying compatriots. What really matters is legitimacy of promises. It is for voters to judge this and vote accordingly. If there is anything unlawful, anyone may move court. Moreover the rival political parties are also there to pinpoint the shortcomings or illegality in the manifesto.