What is election manifesto? What are …

Election Manifesto

An election manifesto is the list of promises to citizens which is issued by a political party. The list shows the ideology of the party and its commitment to the citizens. It is in the form of a pamphlet or booklet issued to tell people about the party's programmes and policies.

An election manifesto has the following uses:

(i) The election manifestoes issued by various political parties at the time of elections enable the voters to know about the policies and programmes of the parties who are fighting the elections. After studying those manifestoes, the voters can vote for the party (candidate) of their choice.

(ii) The manifesto of the ruling party tells the people about its achievements during the last tenure. Similarly, the manifestos of the Opposition parties point out the failures of the government and mobilise public opinion against them.

(iii) After the elections, the party which is able to get the majority in the Parliament forms the government. The people can exert their pressure on the party in power to fulfil the various promises made to the people in its election manifesto. They are pressed to implement the policy and programmes issued in their election manifestoes.