Andhra Pradesh: TDP-led tripartite alliance releases manifesto; promises skill census, Rs 1500 pension to women

Amravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 1 : The TDP-BJP-JSP alliance in Andhra Pradesh released its joint manifesto christened 'Praja Manifesto' for the upcoming polls in the state, promising to offer Rs 1,500 monthly pension to eligible women.
Addressing a press conference at Undavalli in Guntur on Tuesday, TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu, JSP chief K Pawan Kalyan and Andhra Pradesh BJP in-charge Siddharth Nath Singh released the joint manifesto of the TDP and JSP.
"Rs 1,500 will be given to women in the state monthly. With this, they will additionally receive Rs 18,000 yearly, which is 90,000 in 5 years, apart from this there is Free bus travel for women on RTC buses," the manifesto said.
The Telugu Desam Party, Janasena and BJP combine also promised to offer Rs 3,000 monthly financial assistance to unemployed youth.
"There is a need to win the confidence of the youth towards the state. To gain that, we have announced 20 lakh jobs, in the next 5 years. Until they get employment, they will be provided with a Rs 3,000 unemployment allowance," the manifesto said.
The parties also said that through Thalliki Vandhanam, they will provide Rs 15,000 for every school-going child.
Keeping in view the increased prices of gas cylinders, the alliance shall help every household with 3 free gas cylinders, it added.
The three parties also promised to conduct a 'skill census' across the state.
"This is the first of its kind in the country. To increase the productivity of the people, we have decided to take this up," they added.
Janasena, TDP and BJP are NDA alliance partners in the southern state.
"We have announced the BC (backward classes) declaration and shall provide pensions to the BCs from the age of 50, along with a special protection act for BCs," the manifesto said.
They also promised to restore 34 per cent of reservations for BCs in local bodies, and to recommend the Centre to implement 33 per cent of reservations for BCs in the legislature.
"According to the proportion of 140 BC castes and their economic conditions, we will evaluate them and establish corporations accordingly, provide funds for them, and uplift them. To provide self-employment for the BC Community, we will spend Rs 10,000 crores per year.
The manifesto also promised to provide free electricity up to 200 units for handlooms and 500 units for powerlooms.
"We will provide Rs 24,000 crores yearly to their families," it added.
It further said that the NDA government if formed in the state will provide Rs 5,000 financial support for the management of mosques.
"We will give pensions to minorities from the age of 50. We will establish a haj house near Vijayawada. We will spend Rs 100 crores yearly for Noor Basha corporation. We will give Rs 5 lakh interest-free loans through minority corporation. We will give honorarium for Imams and Maujans. Rs 5,000 financial support will be provided for the management of masjids," the manifesto said.
In the 2024 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).
As part of a seat sharing deal among NDA partners, TDP was allocated 144 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha constituencies while BJP will contest from six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats.
Janasena will contest two Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly seats. Elections for the 175-member Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled on May 13 and the counting of votes will be held on June 4.