AP: TDP releases election manifesto, outsmarts YSRCP in welfare schemes

VIJAYAWADA: The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) released its election manifesto on Saturday. The jumbo manifesto touched upon all sections of society with a shower of sops outsmarting the opposition YSRCP’s promises. The chief minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu while releasing the manifesto said it was a vision document for all round development of the state. He also ridiculed the YSRC manifesto terming it as shallow promises without vision.


The TDP manifesto aimed at winning the confidence of farmers and women with two flagship programmes which have already been introduced with increased benefits. Naidu announced Rs 15000 monetary benefit under Annadata Sukhibhava scheme to all farmers including the tenant farmers. He also announced the Pasupu-Kumkuma scheme which will give Rs 10000 monetary benefit to women in self-help groups will be continued in the next five years. Around 94 lakh women will be benefited with Rs 50000 in the next five years from this scheme he said. He also promised to give smart phones to all women in self-help groups.

Giving priority to the welfare schemes, Naidu announced the pensioners will get Rs 3000 and the age for pension eligibility will be reduced from 65 years to 60 years. Under Ammaki Vandanam programme which is currently do not have any monetary benefit, Naidu announced that the mothers who send their children to schools will be given Rs 18000 every year. He said this is to encourage parents to send their children to schools. Naidu tried to outsmart his counterpart YS Jagnamohan Reddy who promised Rs 15000 under similar scheme.

Naidu also announced that the monetary benefit to unemployed youth under Yuvanestam scheme will be increased from Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 if TDP is voted power. He also said that the eligibility for getting benefit will be intermediate only. He also promised to give laptops to all students who continue studies after intermediate.

Announcing universal health for all, Naidu announced free health care for all families who were having income below income tax limit. He ridiculed the universal health scheme for all if the bill is more than Rs 1000 announced by YSRCP saying that they are already implementing the scheme which gives free health care. He said the opposition leader do not have knowledge on what is being implemented.

Naidu said that the manifesto was prepared for state development with sustainability as background theme. He claimed that Andhra Pradesh became the only state which made river interlinking a reality. “We are now planning to interlink all five major rivers in the state with an aim to provide water to 2 crore acres of land” he said.

Emphasising on job creation, Naidu said they are taking all measures so that all Rs 15.48 lakh crore worth of investments by various companies which have entered into MoUs with the government will be grounded to create 30 lakh jobs across the state. He further emphasised on creating industrial parks at mandal level. He also promised to announce recruitment calendar and fill all existing vacancies in the government.

Touching upon backward classes, Naidu promised to set up BC Bank with Rs 10000 crore fund. He promised incentives for SC, ST, BC and minorities for setting up of businesses. He promised Rs 10000 to weavers, free health insurance and marketing fund with Rs 250 crore. Further extending benefits to the farmers in agriculture and allied sectors, he promised 75 per cent subsidy for purchasing animals and also on fodder.

Naidu alleged that the YSRCP does not have any vision for development of Amaravati and they did not even had any mention in their manifesto. “We are committed to develop Amaravati as one of the best five cities in the world. We will develop Amaravati in such a way that those who are accusing Amaravati as only graphics will hang their heads in shame once it become a reality” he said. He also accused YSRCP of colluding with TRS which is the reason why they did not have any mention on irrigation projects in their manifesto