Beyond manifestos, candidates tailor vows with podcast studio & AI school

Guwahati: Moving beyond party manifestos, several candidates have made constituency-specific promises — ranging from a podcast studio to an AI super school to family doctors for economically weaker families — in a bid to connect with voters and secure support.

All political parties have released their election manifestos, outlining broad promises such as higher daily wages for tea garden workers, increased govt employment, and improved healthcare infrastructure. While these pledges target voters across the state, several candidates have gone a step further. To connect more directly with the electorate, candidates from various parties, including BJP, have announced constituency-specific proposals tailored to local needs and aspirations.

Tapping into Gen Z trends, BJP candidate for Guwahati Central constituency, Vijay Kumar Gupta -- despite being a septuagenarian -- has proposed an innovative idea to attract young voters. He has promised to establish a creators’ studio for the youth, aimed at supporting the city’s growing gig and content economy.

“I am planning to ink memorandums of understanding with various national institutions, including the National School of Drama. My idea is to help content creators, many of whom lack logistical support while producing content,” he said.

Opposition alliance candidate Kunki Chowdhury of Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), a Gen Z debutant contesting against Gupta, has pitched a skill hub and smart parking facility -- targeting employment readiness and everyday urban challenges faced by young commuters.

She vowed to set up a skill hub offering training and job opportunities for youth, which she considers vital in today’s competitive era. Addressing traffic congestion in Guwahati, she also promised smart parking facilities in her constituency, though details of the plan remain unspecified.

Chowdhury entered politics this year after completing her master’s in educational leadership from the Institute of Education and Society, University College London, last year.

In Dispur, BJP candidate Pradyut Bordoloi has unveiled a set of technology-driven and welfare-oriented promises, including the establishment of an AI super school and access to family doctors for economically weaker sections.

The former Lok Sabha MP, who quit Congress and joined BJP on March 18, secured the party ticket from the prestigious constituency and is contesting against Congress candidate Mira Borthakur Goswami.

Citing the growing relevance of artificial intelligence, Bordoloi said the proposed AI super school would significantly benefit students. He also announced a scheme, ‘Deeksha Maitrayee’, under which educated women would be engaged through NGOs to support the academic development of students from economically weaker families. Additionally, he pledged to provide family doctors to EWS households.