New Delhi: Ram, Rajya and reforms is the BJP's poll pitch in 2009.
There is a return to its core issue of the temple, packaged with the urban flavour of reform.
But perhaps there is a telling comment on how the BJP has been isolated by its allies.
This time the party has given centre stage to everything they couldn't put in the NDA manifesto in 1999 and 2004. So, the Ram mandir is back. A tough POTA-like anti terror law has been promised. And ofcourse there is uniform civil code, and article 370.
Says L K Advani, BJP's prime ministerial candidate: "If there's a definition of an ideal state in India it has been the idea of 'Ram Rajya'."
The manifesto also goes head to head against its main rival the Congress's public offering.
The Congress's a kilo of rice for 3 rupees scheme is trumped by their promise of a kilo of rice for 2 Rs for the poor.
The Congress promises right to food, BJP promises right to water.
Congress promises reservation for all minorities, while the BJP says reservations will be based on economic status.
While the Congress has waived interest on farm loans, the BJP in its manifesto on Friday promised waiving farm loans across the board.
Both parties are targeting young voters. Congress promises easy educational loans. The BJP on Friday also promised cheaper housing and student loans.
Nation-wide skill development programme features among Congress sops, while the BJP has promised big tax cuts for armed forces and women.
"We have spent time on this. We believe this answers a lot of problems faced by India," says Advani.
Says Congress spokesperson Kapil Sibal: "The BJP has copied 70% of our schemes."
Implementing this says Advani will lead to an <I>adarsh rajya</I>, or a perfect state, but even he knows that also needs a perfect majority. And in this age of fractured mandates what gets implemented aren't manifestoes like this, but common minimum programes.