In a serious departure from political precedence, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's vote-on-account this year has steered clear of populism. Is the country finally debating the feasibility of electoral freebies?
It seems the promises made by the BJP, which it promoted as Modi ki Guarantee 2023 , worked in its favour as it is all set to return to power in the tribal-dominated state with a thumping majority. In the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress had registered a landslide victory largely because of a "strong" anti-incumbency against the then BJP dispensation and the grand old party s promise of freebies and welfare measures.
This election season, coinciding with the festive spirit, kicked off on November 7, 2023. The states of Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana witnessed polls between November 7-30, however, the fate of these states will be known on December 3, the counting day.
The Court made the observation while hearing a petition against promises being made by political parties ahead of assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.