Andhra Pradesh has become a hot battleground for the regional parties Telugu Desham Party (TDP), Y S R Congress Party (YSRCP), and the recently emerged Janasena Party (JSP). TDP led by Chandra Babu Naidu is currently the servicing party in Andhra Pradesh and YS Jagan led YSRCP is the principal opposition. Janasena Party (JSP) led by Pawan Kalyan is in alliance with BSP, CPI, and CPM, and is currently looking strong in certain regions of the state.
All the parties have recently released their manifestos in which many perks for the lower and middle class have been mentioned. Janasena party’s manifesto involved discussions about quality of life problems like pure drinking water, controlling pollution, development of slums, reservations for women, free gas cylinders, etc.
TDP included a financial assistance scheme and free power supply for farmers, reconstruction of state, subsidies for tribal farmers, better irrigation, reservations for women, increase in pension, better employment opportunities, education facilities, etc.,
YSRCP’s manifesto also included schemes to improve the lives of farmers, women from all classes, kids, and youth. Their manifesto boasted of healthcare provision, employment opportunities, fee reimbursement, prohibition of illicit liquor businesses, etc.
YSRCP’s manifesto seemed to concentrate mostly on the upbringing of the economically backward classes. YSRCP’s unemployment schemes included filling up of vacant government jobs, assisting barbers, tailors, washer-men, weavers, hawkers, vendors, fishermen, etc. A promise of increased stipend to junior lawyers was also in the manifesto along with education plans like fee reimbursement.
On the other hand, TDP’s manifesto has plans like increasing jobs by building tourism, developing infrastructure, improvement of IT and Electronic Structure, setting up Film Studios, Solar Power plants, etc. Their education plans involve waiver of education loans, improving 85% of colleges and universities to NAAC Accredited, upgrading medical colleges and hospitals to international standards, increasing stipends of Medical PG students, etc.
JSP while promising free education, health, women welfare, and employment promotion, also focused on employment through private sectors and industrial development. One area where JSP’s manifesto stands out is that the party had focused on improving the quality of life in rural areas and law and order improvement alongside the aforementioned elements.
JSP manifesto looks impressive with certain plans to improve the quality of life in rural and urban areas which no other party had bothered to mention. YSRCP’s manifesto covers all the options that can make life better for the economically backward classes but left out the working class entirely. The employment plans and education plans of YSRCP involve reimbursing the fees and making it easier for the students, but nowhere has the issue of improving the quality of education been discussed.
TDP’s plans involve features that can help both the working class and the economically backward classes. CBN’s employment plans covered a vast range of fields like in tourism, IT sector, road construction and government jobs which aren’t visible in the YSRCP’s manifesto. The improvement of college accreditations, upgradation of medical colleges and hospitals are some proposals that have kept the TDP’s manifesto ahead of the others.
Opinion polls have suggested that both TDP and YSRCP share equal support, (40.2% and 40.8 % respectively) among the people of Andhra Pradesh currently while JSP is at 15.9% of the total. The survey suggests that Pawan Kalyan’s JSP might become a key player in the formation of the government, but these predictions might prove to be inconsistent. Assembly elections are just two days away and we will have to wait and see where the pulse of the people stands.
Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections are scheduled to take place on 11th of April along with the state’s General elections and the counting will happen on 23rd May.