MCD polls: No new taxes, promises BJP

No new taxes. That was the buzzword as the Delhi BJP launched its 41-point manifesto for the three municipal corporations in the Capital. The promise directly targets Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s recent claim that he would waive off house tax in the city, if voted to power.

The manifesto, Sankalp Patra, was released by Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari on Sunday.

Attacking Kejriwal’s claim of waiving off house tax, BJP leaders said that the move was a “populist agenda” and that it would badly hit the cash-strapped corporations as house tax was a major source of revenue.

“We have not brought in any new tax for the last eight years. However, it is one of the crucial sources of income for the civic body. The AAP chief’s claim of waiving off house tax is just a populist gimmick as they know they are losing their voter base in the city,” Tiwari said.

Soon after the manifesto’s launch, AAP released a statement that the ruling party had in the 2007 polls itself promised to abolish house tax.

“The BJP has been fooling people for so many years. It promised that it would do away with house tax in the 2007 elections,” said Delhi AAP convenor …read more