The opposition Left Front on Friday released their poll manifesto with bunch of commitments including 2.5 lakh new jobs, reinstatement of all retrenched 10, 323 teachers, restoration of law and order, pension to poor senior citizens, reintroduction of the old pension scheme and hikes of DA twice in a year for government employees if it is voted to power.

Addressing a press conference here at CPI(M) headquarters on Friday morning Left Front convener Narayan Kar accompanied by CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury and other Front leaders said that the LF is committed for maximum autonomy for Autonomous District Council (ADC), but they are against bifurcation of the state.

In the 15-page manifesto, the LF has promised the reinstatement of 10,323 retrenched teachers, regularization of services of contractual employees and restoration of rules of law, protection of citizen rights irrespective of religion.

Kar said that after the formation of BJP-IPFT government, the democratic rights of people have been suppressed and rules of hooliganism prevail in the state.

He said that the voting rights of people have been snatched away and when people raise their voices against the oppressive policies of the ruling party, violent attacks are being organized in every part of the state. He said that after the formation of the LF government,  most priority will be given to the restoration of democracy.

Kar said that LF along with alliance Congress if voted to power will create 2.5 lakh jobs during the next five years and contractual employees will also be regularized as per the guidelines of the government.

Any person whose age is over 60 years and has an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh will get social pension, said Kar and added that the new government will increase the number of social pensions along with hike of wages and will also restore social pension, which were victimized by the present government.

Reappointment of retrenched 10,323 government school teachers, employment for youths, and restoration of law and order are some of the main promises featured in the CPI-M-led Left Front manifesto ahead of the February 16 Assembly polls.

While speaking in the press meet CPI(M) state secretary Jitendra Chowdhury said  the BJP government at the Centre kept pending the 125th Amendment of the Constitution but giving big promises for the welfare of the tribals. The 125th amendment to the Constitution provides for the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram to safeguard the rights of the tribal population and their socio economic development in these states.

Assuring greater autonomy for ADC, Chowdhury also said that they are very much hopeful to work together with Tipra-Motha party for the welfare of indigenous people.

Chowdhury said that the Left Front and Congress, which are contesting the February 16 elections under a seat-sharing agreement, would soon announce a common minimum programme jointly with Congress.

Apart from assuring development in all sectors including return of all TSR jawans, who were deployed in many parts of the country, the LF leaders  said that ration money and dress allowance of police, TSR, Home guards and SPOs will be increased.

“We will ensure the freedom of press and all miscreants involved with attacks on media houses will be arrested,”, said Chowdhury and added that welfare schemes for journalists and their families will also be taken.

He said that in the name of ad-hoc promotions, the present government deprived employees with regularization of their promotion and said that if they voted to power all employees, who get the ad-hoc promotion will be ensured their financial benefit as per government rules.

LF convener Narayan Kar said that if the Front comes back to power then free electricity for up to 50 units per family, who uses electricity less than 50 units per month.

Significantly, the LF will take stringent steps and measures to stop drug menaces across the state and with assurance of a corruption free and transparent administration.

They said that land allotment to landless people and a ban on the privatization of government-run educational institutions would be done, the registration fees for purchase of land  will be reduced and harassment during registration will also be decreased.

Among the other 81 promises in the manifesto are restoration of democratic, religious and political rights, and general law and order "destroyed by the BJP government" besides an all out war against drugs and efforts to ensure 200 days of work under MGNREGA and TUEP, empowerment women, doubling the number self-help-groups (SHGs), one –third reservation for women legislative body, free supply of drinking water strengthening of PDS,  development of infrastructures, facilities of farmers and subsidy, development of tourism sector, process for OBC reservation, setting up AIIMS like institution with improvement of health facilities, filling of all vacant post in health department, super-speciality block at AGMC, expansion of education, sports etc

The LF leaders also said that justice would also be done for people who were cheated by the non-banking finance companies and the government will extend help to political victim families.

They also said that everywhere LF candidates are getting tremendous response from a cross-section of society and assured that soon, the people of the state will restore the democracy in the state.