Mumbai: AAP releases manifesto; promises free water, education and healthcare

The Aam Aadmi Party AAP on Tuesday released its lsquoKejriwalchi Guaranteersquo manifesto for upcoming BMC Election 2026promising wideranging reforms in civic governance education healthcare water supply and electricity for MumbaiThe manifesto was unveiled by former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi who said Mumbairsquos civic decline was the result of decades of corruption and misplaced priorities despite the cityrsquos vast financial resourcesAddressing the media Atishi said Mumbai despite its enormous wealth had become an unsafe and poorly planned cityldquoMumbai despite its enormous wealth has become an ugly dirty and unsafe symbol of unplanned urbanisation If governed with honesty and intent it can become a global template for citiesrdquo she saidShe alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC which has an annual budget exceeding Rs 75000 crore had delivered substandard services and fostered systemic corruptionFocus on education and healthcareAtishi accused successive political administrations of neglecting public education and healthcare She claimed that municipal schools were being shut to exploit their real estate value and that fewer than three lakh students were currently enrolled in BMCrun schoolsShe also said primary healthcare was nearly nonexistent in Mumbai and promised that AAP would deliver worldclass free education free healthcare and free electricity as it had done in Delhi and PunjabAppeal for clean governanceDescribing the manifesto as a concrete and actionable plan Atishi urged citizens to vote for honest governance and appealed to voters to support AAPrsquos broom symbol for a decisive mandate in the civic pollslsquoPolitics of workrsquo says AAPAAP Mumbai president Preeti Sharma Menon said the party was contesting the elections on the plank of lsquoKaam Ki Rajneetirsquo politics of work in contrast to what she described as confusing and opportunistic alliances among established partiesShe said voters were often unclear about political alliances across corporations and claimed AAP was offering Mumbai a clear and honest alternative Menon added that the party had fielded educated and young candidates with proven records of public serviceFour lsquoKejriwalchi GuaranteesrsquoThe manifesto is centred around four flagship guarantees including 247 clean drinking water with free supply of up to 20000 litres per household per month Transformation of BMC schools through modern infrastructure and higher budget allocation Establishment of 1000 neighbourhood Mohalla Clinics offering free consultations medicines and diagnostic tests Free electricity up to 200 units per family free meter installations and promotion of decentralised solar powerCivic revival and transport reformsAAP has proposed reviving BEST by inducting at least 10000 electric buses providing free public transport for women and students and implementing a scientific lsquoZero Potholersquo road system The party has also promised to end the commercialisation of BEST depotsSanitation women and environmental measuresThe manifesto outlines a threepronged system of awareness incentives and penalties to enforce waste segregation construction of two lakh public toilets and complete mechanisation to end manual scavengingSpecial measures for women and children include monthly financial assistance of Rs 5000 for lowincome pregnant women free health checkups CCTV coverage in vulnerable areas and mental health counsellors in municipal schoolsEnvironmental commitments include protection and expansion of mangroves halting construction on salt pans strict pollution control at construction sites and declaring Aarey Colony a reserved forest by merging it with Sanjay Gandhi National ParkClean governance pledgeReiterating AAPrsquos governance pitch Menon said the party had delivered essential services without corruption or debt in states it governed and promised to bring the same transparency and accountability to the BMCThe manifesto is dedicated to the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Dr B R Ambedkar Bhagat Singh Mahatma Phule Savitribai Phule and Chhatrapati Shahu MaharajAppealing to citizens ahead of the civic polls AAP called for votes in the name of change development and honest governance in Indiarsquos financial capital