Andhra: BJP criticises YSRCP's poll manifesto, claims "clear wave" in support of NDA

Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) [India], April 27 : BJP spokesperson Yamini Sharma Sadineni criticised the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) after the latter released its election manifesto in the run-up to the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh.
Sadineni questioned the fund source to fulfil the promises made in the poll manifesto while pointing out the allegedly straining financial situation of the state government.
"The YSRCP manifesto 2024 is a continuation of the existing schemes, with some extent to certain programs. However, the pressing question remains, where will the funding come from? As we all know, the YSRCP government has already liquidated numerous government properties and accumulated substantial debts leaving the state financially straining," Yamini Sharma Sadineni said while responding to the YSRCP's manifesto on Saturday.
The BJP leader further claimed that there is a "clear wave" in support of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"I don't think the people of Andhra Pradesh would again believe or give their vote to YSRCP because they have not fulfilled 100 per cent of its manifesto points, which were mentioned in 2019. We can see a clear wave in the state of Andhra Pradesh that people are giving their support to the NDA alliance because the people of Andhra Pradesh have seen the development and welfare between 2014 and 2019 done by the TDP-led NDA government. The people are wise enough to make a decision," she said.
Earlier in the day, YSRCP chief and Andhra Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy released the party's poll manifesto at the Tadepalli camp office in Vijayawada. With minimum changes to the 2019 poll guarantees under the name Navaratnalu, the YSRCP manifesto was released with the name Navaratnalu Plus this time.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has promised to gradually hike welfare pensions from Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per month and govern the state from Visakhapatnam.
While addressing a press conference earlier today, the Andhra Pradesh CM noted that welfare pensions, which are currently at Rs 3,000 per month, will be raised to Rs 3,250 from January 2028 and subsequently to Rs 3,500 from January 2029.
"Immediately after YSRCP forms the government in 2024, Visakhapatnam will be made the executive capital as the seat of the government. It will be developed as the growth engine for the state," the Andhra CM said, adding that Amaravati will be developed as the legislative capital and Kurnool as the judicial capital.
Reddy has assured to increase annual financial assistance to the farmers under Rythu Bharosa to Rs 16,000 from the existing Rs 13,500.
The YSRCP will raise the financial outlay for Amma Vodi from Rs 15,000 per annum to Rs 17,000 Reddy said, adding that under this scheme, financial aid is provided to mothers who send their children to school. Amma Vodi is a financial aid scheme for mothers who send their children to school.
The party has promised to continue the financial assistance extended under YSR Cheyutha to women aged between 45 and 60 for another five years. The state government had granted Rs. 18750 under YSR Cheyutha, bringing the total benefit in four years to Rs. 75,000. Further, the party chief vowed to continue financial assistance of Rs. 600,000 under YSR Kapu Nestham for another four years to take the total benefit to Rs. 1.2 lakh. Kapu women would get a Rs. 15000 annual grant for four years under Kapu Nestham.
During the 2019 elections, YSRCP registered a landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh, winning 151 of the 175 seats in the Assembly, dethroning the TDP government.
In general elections, the YSRCP won 22 of the 25 seats with a vote share of 49.89 per cent, while the TDP could only manage three constituencies and got 40.19 per cent votes. The two national parties--the BJP and Congress--failed to open their account in the state.
However, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, YSRCP is contesting alone in all 25 parliamentary constituencies and the 175 seats of the state Assembly. It is up against the Congress-led INDIA bloc and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former CM N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party (JSP).
The voting in 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh is scheduled to be held on May 13 in the fourth phase.
The first phase of voting in 102 parliamentary constituencies across 21 states/UTs was held on April 19 while the second phase was completed on April 26. The polling in the second phase of the parliamentary elections simultaneously across 88 constituencies recorded an approximate voter turnout of 60.96 per cent as of 7 pm on Friday, according to the EC. With the conclusion of phase 2, voting has been completed in 14 states/UTs for the 2024 general elections.
The third phase will witness polling in 94 constituencies across 12 states/UTs on May 7. The results will be announced on June 4.