Competitive populism was on full display as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress, the two main contenders for power in Andhra Pradesh, unveiled their election manifestos on April 6, promising virtually all things to all people.
From crop investment assistance and interest-free loans to cash dole outs to various sections and total prohibition, the manifestos presented a galore of freebies and sops. Both the parties chose Ugadi, the Telugu New Year day, to release their poll manifestos, just four days ahead of the simultaneous elections to the Assembly and Lok Sabha.
Unveiling the manifesto after performing special prayers on the occasion of Ugadi, the YSRCP chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy promised to implement total prohibition in the state in three phases. Alcohol would eventually be available only in five star hotels.
The four-page manifesto, comprising nine promises (Navaratnalu) made by Jagan Reddy during his marathon 3,860-km long padayatra last year, promises to provide investment support of ₹50,000 per year to each farmer under “Rythu Bharosa” scheme in four instalments of ₹12,500 each, starting with onset of Kharif season in May.
Besides, he has also promised free crop insurance, interest-free loans, setting up of godowns, cold-storages and food processing plants.
If voted to power, YSRCP would implement “Amma Vodi” scheme for women involving payment of ₹15,000 per annum for sending their kids to schools, Rs 50,000 for DWCRA women groups under “YSR Aasara” scheme and interest payment for self-help groups; ₹75,000 for backward classes (BC), scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST), and minority women (over the age of 45 years) under YSR Cheyutha, registering of houses in the name of women, ₹1 lakh for women SC, ST, BC and minorities to help them get married.
Under the universal health coverage scheme, the party proposed to provide free health care to all those with less than ₹5 lakh annual income.
The manifesto also promises jobs to at least 10 youths in every village in village secretariats to be created for a de-centralised administration. Besides, 3.5 lakh village volunteers would get honorarium of ₹5,000 per month.
He also promised to fill the vacant 2.3 lakh government jobs.
Among the other promises are enhancement of old age pensions to ₹3,000 per month with age limit being reduced from 65 to 60 years, creation of separate fund for OBCs with ₹75,000 crore over five years, similar welfare fund for kapus and funds for the traditional artisans.
The YSRC also promised re-organisation of districts in the state, converting every parliamentary constituency into a district, thereby increasing the number of districts to 25 from the present 13.
TDP’s manifesto
The Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu released his party’s manifesto after Ugadi celebrations at his residence in Amaravati.
The ruling party promised interest-free loans to farmers without any limit and implementation of “Annadata Sukhibhava” scheme, which is a crop investment assistance of ₹10,000 per year to each farmer as a permanent measure.
Naidu also promised to create a price stabilisation fund of ₹5,000 crore towards market intervention to ensure remunerative prices to farmers. The farmers would also get a 12-hour power supply to their crops free of cost.
An exclusive bank for OBCs with a corpus fund of ₹10,000 crore and an Islamic Bank exclusively for Muslims have also been promised.
Among the other promises made by Naidu in his manifesto are free mobile phones to self-help group (SHG) women, enhancement of group insurance to the SHGs from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh, payment of ₹50,000 to each of the 97 lakh women in SHGs under “Pasupu-Kukuma” scheme, ₹3,000 each towards old age pensions for people with age limit to be reduced to 60 years, increase in unemployment allowance to ₹3,000 per month.
Special corporations for SC sub-groups, underground drainage facility for all villages with a population of over 2,000, free laptops for students from Class 11 to post-graduation, marriage gift of ₹1 lakh to poor couples are the other promises made by Naidu.
The Chief Minister also declared that the Polavaram major irrigation project would be completed by December end, while developing Amaravati to the level of a world class capital city over the next five years.