Modi's party pledges growth and development in election manifesto

It vows to improve opportunities for the underprivileged, women, youth, farmers

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India's ruling party 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 for The Bharatiya Janata Party.

(BJP) highlighted four key areas, vowing to improve opportunities underprivileged Indians, 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 titled its programme Modi Ki Guarantee, or Modi's Guarantee, arguing that the Prime Minister is a man of his word and fulfils all promises.

Mr Modi has dominated Indian politics since he helped the BJP win the 2014 election in a landslide. He remains hugely popular and has been the party's star campaigner for the past decade.

"India needs a stable government when the world is going through turmoil and conflict," Mr Modi said at the manifesto's launch in New Delhi on April 14.

"Reform, perform is our identity." Several BJP leaders speaking at the launch touted Mr Modi's pledges, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh describing it "as good as 24-karat gold".