Nagpur: After the Congress manifesto for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections promised 30,000 litres of free water and free bus services, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday released its own manifesto, clearly distancing itself from large-scale freebie announcements. Except for free bus travel for senior citizens above 70 years of age in NMC-run buses, the BJP manifesto avoids welfare giveaways and instead focuses on long-term infrastructure, employment, and urban transformation.
The manifesto was released at a function held at Hotel Tuli Imperial, Ramdaspeth, in the presence of Revenue Minister and Nagpur Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, BJP city president Dayashankar Tiwari, MLAs Pravin Datke and Parinay Fuke, former MLA Prof. Anil Sole, Sudhakar Kohale, Girish Vyas, former MP Dr Vikas Mahatme, election in-charge Sanjay Bhende, former mayor Nanda Jichkar, and senior leader Jayprakash Gupta.
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12 Jan 2026
Focus on continuity and large-scale projects
Addressing the media, BJP city president Dayashankar Tiwari said the party’s manifesto builds on the work done during BJP’s 20-year tenure in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. He claimed that all promises made in the 2017 civic elections were fulfilled, barring the implementation of 24×7 water supply across the entire city.
Tiwari assured that the BJP is committed to providing round-the-clock water supply citywide in the coming years. He said the party has already initiated real transformation in Nagpur and listed past achievements, including land rights to over 60,000 slum dwellers, acceleration of sewage disposal schemes, allotment of land to Sindhi families who migrated from Pakistan’s Sindh province, construction of water tanks, lake conservation and beautification, development of parks and playgrounds, cement roads, and waste processing projects.
Promise to make Nagpur lease-free
One of the key promises in the manifesto is to make the entire city “lease-free.” Tiwari pointed out that citizens living in NIT (NIT/NASUPRA) layouts currently pay both ground rent and property tax. Once the city becomes lease-free, residents will be relieved of the burden of ground rent.
The manifesto also promises to speed up the rejuvenation of the Nag River and to initiate new sewage line works for the rejuvenation of the Pohra River.
Skill development and women empowerment
The BJP has promised to establish skill development centres in all six assembly constituencies of Nagpur to provide employment-oriented training to youth. Special initiatives have also been announced for women engaged in home-based industries, including support through women self-help groups and the expansion of Tejaswini markets.
Tiwari further said that the Jijau Women Empowerment Centre building at Shankarnagar will be completed within a year and opened for entrepreneurs.
Proposal for a foreign consulate in Nagpur
In a major announcement, the BJP manifesto includes efforts to set up a foreign consulate in Nagpur. Tiwari said this would help citizens who face difficulties abroad by providing a local point of contact. If established, a dedicated facilitation window would also be opened at the municipal corporation and district collector’s offices.
Employment through municipal projects
The manifesto emphasizes employment generation through municipal projects, with a focus on providing jobs to local youth. It also promises internships linking college education to career opportunities, aimed at enhancing skills and employability.
To support future-oriented employment, the BJP has pledged to create youth hubs, e-libraries, and e-learning platforms, along with specialized training for start-ups, freelancers, and jobs in the digital and information technology sectors.
With promises of Metro Phase III, a zero-carbon footprint city, and the vision of making Nagpur a top-ranked urban centre, the BJP has positioned its manifesto as development-driven rather than welfare-heavy, setting up a clear contrast with the Congress ahead of the 2026 NMC elections.
