New Delhi: India’s ruling party has pledged to focus on infrastructure and keep popular subsidies in place in its election manifesto as Prime Minister Narendra Modi bids for a historic third term in voting this week.

The Bharatiya Janata Party said it would focus on improving opportunities for India’s poor, women, youth and farmers.

The manifesto was released just days before voting begins on April 19. Results will be released on June 4.

The party entitled its programme “Modi ki Guarantee”, or Modi’s guarantee - the idea that the prime minister is a man of his word and fulfills all promises.

Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi at which top leaders unveiled the manifesto, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Modi’s guarantee “as good as 24-carat gold.”

 - Bloomberg