If you look at the manifestos of the LDF and the UDF in the state, you can see that there are no limits to the promises. There is a rat race in delivering promises that will impress voters. Although many are reluctant to believe the pre - vote manifestos, it is a valuable document of what can be expected from that government if given the chance to come to power.

Not only here, but in the other four states where elections are being held, one can see the flood of welfare schemes in the manifestos already issued. Even after three and a half centuries of welfare rule, the number of the poor and needy remains high and more welfare programs will be needed in large numbers.

The Left Front can certainly be proud of the fact that most of the promises made by it in the last Assembly elections have been fulfilled. Armed with this achievement, they are facing the voters this time. The LDF government was able to gradually increase the welfare pension from Rs 600 to Rs 1600. It promises to raise it to Rs 2,500 if it comes to power again. The UDF has promised to go one step further and pay a welfare pension of Rs 3,000. It also guarantees the implementation of a scheme to provide Rs. 6,000 per month to poor families and Rs. 72,000 per year. This is the promise made by the Congress leadership in the last Lok Sabha elections. At that national level, the question raised is how to find the money for this project, which will require a huge amount of money. That promise was rendered irrelevant as the Congress' gain in the election was less than fifty seats.

While the Left Front has given 900 promises to the people in this election, the UDF has put forward 832 promises. Free distribution of foodgrains also for high-income earners, free electricity up to 100 units, minimum wage of Rs.700, monthly pension of Rs.2000 for unemployed housewives, writing-off of agricultural debt, law to reclaim five and a half lakh acres of forest land held by companies, hilly lease, six-lane road, metro schemes, renovation for students. The UDF manifesto contains many interesting things, including: The first Left Front paper was also rich in many attractive proposals. Fifty lakh new jobs, free treatment for 20 lakh families, rubber floor price hike to Rs 250. The Left Front promises to the people a series of reforms that will touch all sectors, including doing away with delays in PSC recruitments.

Each election is a moment of new hope and fulfillment for the people. Most of the Malayalees who are at the forefront of literacy and political literacy have clear and unequivocal political views. It is impossible to say how much the manifestos would have contributed to the victories. It is also not possible to dupe people with fake promises.
People also need to be informed on how to implement the promises that require huge financial liabilities.
We need to think about how to find the means to implement such welfare schemes which require huge amount of money. A promise made by NDA leaders before the Lok Sabha elections is still echoing in poll arena. It was rumoured that the black money of Indians in foreign banks would be confiscated and distributed to the accounts of the natives. But nothing has been heard about it since the election results came out.