AAP’s Middle-Class Manifesto Released by Arvind Kejriwal: A Call for Focus on Middle-Class Welfare

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled his party’s “middle-class manifesto” on Wednesday, sharply criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress. Kejriwal accused these parties of making promises based on caste and religion, while prioritising the interests of wealthy industrialists for political donations. He alleged that industrialists are treated as “note banks,” while the general public is reduced to “vote banks.”

Kejriwal lamented that India’s middle class has been neglected and caught between these two groups, receiving little attention from mainstream political parties. He urged the Union Government to prioritise middle-class welfare in the upcoming Union Budget 2025, which is set to be presented on February 1.

“Certain parties have built their votebanks based on religion and caste while appeasing industrialists for donations. The middle class has been crushed between these notebanks and votebanks,” Kejriwal said. “The middle class of India has become the government’s ATM, suffering from what I call tax terrorism.”

Highlighting Achievements and Addressing Concerns

Kejriwal pointed to his tenure in Delhi, citing the government’s increased spending on education and reductions in electricity and water bills as steps taken to alleviate middle-class burdens. He noted that the government’s focus on education has helped many families. “In 2023 alone, around 2.16 lakh people left the country. We increased the education budget and reduced electricity and water bills. After the elections, we will also implement the Sanjeevani Yojana to provide free healthcare for the elderly,” he added.

He criticised successive governments over the past 75 years, claiming they have consistently suppressed and exploited the middle class. Kejriwal blamed the central government’s policies for imposing heavy tax burdens on ordinary citizens while granting benefits to big industrialists.

Kejriwal’s Seven Demands for the Middle Class

Kejriwal presented a seven-point agenda to address the challenges faced by the middle class:

1. Increase Education Spending: Raise the education budget from 2% to 10% of the GDP.
2. Regulate Private School Fees: Impose a cap on private school fees and provide subsidies for higher education.
3. Boost Healthcare Spending: Increase the health sector budget and offer tax exemptions on health insurance premiums.
4. Raise Income Tax Exemption: Increase the income tax exemption limit from ₹7 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
5. Remove GST on Essentials: Eliminate GST on essential goods.
6. Retirement Benefits: Develop a robust retirement and pension plan for senior citizens, along with free, high-quality healthcare nationwide.
7. Restore Railway Discounts: Reinstate the 50% discount on railway fares for senior citizens.

Kejriwal concluded by reiterating his commitment to prioritising the middle class and urged the government to take immediate action to address their concerns.