HYDERABAD: As expected, the main Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has come out with several attractive schemes and programmes in its manifesto to counter the ruling Congress in the general elections.
The party intends to ensure economic, health and food security to the common man and reduce economic disparities in society.
Accordingly, it has announced implementation of the much-hyped Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS) and an integrated health scheme for poor and middle class families, apart from a free colour TV set to every `common man’.
In all, the main Opposition party has promised all things to all sections of the society, particularly the SCs, STs, BCs and minorities.
Releasing the party’s 64-page election manifesto at the NTR Trust Bhavan here today, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu asserted that it would be very much possible for his party to implement the poll promises after coming to power.
A day would come when all political parties and governments would follow the CTS (Cash Transfer Scheme) which had already proved to be a success in some foreign countries, Naidu remarked. Besides, owning a colour TV was not a luxury, but a requirement in the present society, he opined. The Congress and the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) were worried over the TDP’s promises as there was a `fall’ in TV sales in the market, Naidu said. People stopped buying colour TV sets and that itself indicated that the TDP would definitely come to power again, he claimed.
“India is moving ahead. There is no problem with funds. If we control corruption, money will be available with the government. With that money, we will bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. There is corruption under the Congress regime.
Delivery mechanism is very poor. Of the Rs 100 spent on a welfare scheme, only Rs 10 to Rs 20 is reaching the common man and the remaining is being misappropriated.
“We want to bring an Act to control political corruption.
We will set up tribunals to enquire and evaluate the disproportionate income of politicians.
Finally, the confiscated property will come to the State. The proposed Act is intended to punish corrupt politicians,’’ he explained.
Naidu further said there had been a 21 per cent annual growth rate in State revenues during the last 15 years. There was no problem in respect of revenues, but the problem was with the delivery mechanism, he said.
The TDP’s manifesto was not populist, but `revolutionary’ which guaranteed life security providing a minimum of Rs 2,000 monthly cash transfer to every family.
The CTS would pose a challenge to the Congress as it was going to `hit and tilt’ the elections, he observed.
As for the formation of separate Telangana State, Naidu asserted that his party would take both ‘political and legal’ steps to resolve the issue immediately after coming to power. “We (Grand Alliance partners) have a very clear stand. There is no problem as most of them are supporting," he added.
On this occasion, the TDP supremo announced that after coming to power, he would first sign the file pertaining to devolution of powers and funds to local bodies.
Then, he would sign the files pertaining to implementation of the Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS) and distribution of colour TV sets, he added.