Uddhav follows kejriwal's footsteps, announces freebies ahead of BMC polls
Shivsena's Uddhav Thackeray has already rolled the carpets to allure voters in the BMC polls.
In Short
- Uddhav Thackeray has tapped on the nerve of Mumbaikars for garnering their vote in BMC polls.
- BJP alleges the idea of 'no property tax' to be theirs originally.
- The BJP is already demanding an equal seat sharing in the alliance with Shivsena.
Even though the Shivsena is yet to formally launch its Manifesto for the BMC polls, Party President Uddhav Thackeray seems to have stepped into Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's shoes as he announced a list of freebies that his party will offer if voted back to power? Addressing a press conference at his Bandra residence Matoshri,Uddhav announced that if elected, his party would abolish the property tax for all flats up to 500 sq ft in the city while homes measuring 500 to 700 sq ft will get tax rebates.
" We don't want Mumbaikars to keep paying taxes all their lives? After winning the BMC election there will be "no property tax" for next five years, for who are staying in 500 sq feet carpet area house. And for those Mumbaikars, who are staying between 500 sq and 700 sq feet carpet area house, some concession on the property tax will be given ?" announced Uddhav.
Uddhav also announced a healthcare scheme that will be part of the Manifesto that is likely to be announced on January 26th. Named as Balasaheb Thackrey suraksha kavach - the healthcare scheme to provide free healthcare for Mumbaikars.
Also read | Uddhav Thackeray: I'm always positive about alliance with BJP
Shivsena is yet to formally announce its Manifesto for the BMC polls. Uddhav's move to announce these sops in haste is seen as an attempt by his party to score a point over the BJP? The BJP has alleged plagiarism that the idea was originally mooted by the BJP ? Without naming the Shivsena or Uddhav BJP Mumbai unit president Aashish Shelar said, "Some people may be thinking of it now but I was the one who had raised the issue of waiving off property tax in Mumbai on the floor of the house?" Shelar also attacked the tax system in BMC calling it a regime of Tax terrorism? "Mumbai roads are full of potholes , but still mumbaikars have to pay streets tax? In order to provide relief to Mumbaikars from "Tax Terrorism, we had raised the issue of waiving off street tax" Shelar added.
The allies are in talks for an alliance for last few days.. With a solid show in the Assembly polls, the BJP is no mood to play a junior partner and is demanding a 50-50% seat sharing agreement, whereas the Shivsena is in no mood to oblige? While the Shivsena may have gone ahead t announce its poll sops, the BJP has reminded the Shivsena that if it wants alliance it will have to do it on BJP's terms?