GUWAHATI: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) on Wednesday, April 23, unveiled its manifesto for the upcoming 2025 Panchayat elections. The manifesto was jointly released at a press conference in Guwahati by party president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan, and it laid out a detailed agenda focused on grassroots democracy, local economic growth, transparency, and cultural preservation.
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A central theme of the manifesto is the strengthening of the Panchayati Raj system. The party has promised to empower Gram Sabhas as the primary decision-making bodies in rural governance. It has suggested granting Panchayats direct access to development budgets and control over services such as healthcare, education, water supply, and sanitation.
To ensure transparency, the party has also proposed institutional mechanisms including monthly Gram Sabha meetings, public display boards outside Panchayat offices detailing ongoing schemes and funds, and real-time online access to financial data. The formation of 11-member community monitoring committees has also been proposed to enable local oversight.
Additionally, in an effort to promote rural entrepreneurship, AJP has introduced the “One Panchayat, One Product” model. The initiative has been suggested to encourage production and marketing of traditional items such as handloom, handicrafts, ethnic foods, and dairy products. The party also plans to support rural entrepreneurs through bank loan facilitation and skill training.
The manifesto has outlined further measures to strengthen the agricultural sector through the creation of Panchayat-level farmer advisory councils, promotion of organic farming, and Panchayat-led procurement systems to ensure fair market access and pricing for farmers.
AJP has also committed to spur the participation of women and youth by reserving 50% representation for both groups in Panchayat committees. The party has proposed forming National Service Volunteer Groups in every village and launching digital literacy and entrepreneurship training for young residents.
Furthermore, the manifesto has proposed bringing schools, health centres, and Anganwadi services under Panchayat supervision. It recommends “Nutrition Gardens” in government schools to support food security and child health.
On infrastructure, the AJP has promised people-centric planning for roads, drainage, and drinking water, alongside launching the “Green Village Mission” for tree plantation and environmental awareness.
Cultural preservation was another key aspect mentioned in the manifesto, with plans to support indigenous languages and folk traditions through Folk Culture Learning Centres and mobile theatre groups.
Finally, the party has pledged to ensure legal autonomy for Panchayats, including establishing “Nyaya Panchayats” for local dispute resolution and reforming District Planning Committees to reflect local priorities.
