Jaipur, Dec 13: Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday claimed that nearly 70 per cent of the promises made in the BJP’s manifesto for the Assembly elections had been fulfilled in the last two years, asserting that the state had emerged as one of the country’s best-performing regions in governance and development.
Releasing his government’s two-year performance report, Sharma said around 73 per cent of the budgetary announcements made during the period had been implemented. He claimed that Rajasthan had secured first rank in the implementation of 11 Central and national projects, second position in five and third in nine.
The chief minister said the BJP government had set new benchmarks in good governance, transparency, public welfare and development. He underlined that strict action had been taken against corruption and competitive examination paper leaks, with several key accused arrested and sent to jail.
Emphasising the government’s focus on youth, Sharma said a special investigation team (SIT) had been constituted to probe paper leak cases and assured that securing the future of young people remained a top priority, with a comprehensive youth policy to be introduced.
Highlighting major infrastructure initiatives, he said the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) was treated as a priority from day one, with work orders worth about Rs 26,000 crore issued so far. The project, he said, is expected to benefit nearly three crore people in eastern Rajasthan. He added that an MoU was signed with Haryana in February 2024 to supply water to the Shekhawati region, and that the detailed project report was under preparation.
On innovation and entrepreneurship, the chief minister said more than 7,200 start-ups had been registered under the state’s i-Start initiative, attracting investments of over Rs 1,000 crore and generating more than 42,500 jobs. He said the government aimed to position Rajasthan as a global hub for technology and innovation.
Sharma further said over 28 policies had been implemented in the last two years to ensure sustainable and transparent development. He also referred to the ‘Vikas Raths’ initiative, under which mobile outreach vehicles would travel across all Assembly segments to connect people with welfare schemes and inform them about policy reforms and government achievements.
The Congress, however, dismissed the chief minister’s claims as misleading. Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Jully alleged that several key promises remained unfulfilled, including procurement of wheat and millets at remunerative prices, reduction in VAT on petrol and diesel, and a clear roadmap for job creation.
Meanwhile, political circles in Jaipur witnessed speculation following former chief minister Vasundhara Raje’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, coming in the backdrop of the BJP’s defeat in the Anta Assembly by-election, which has been seen as a test for the Bhajan Lal Sharma government.
