Vote bank audit

Numbers are so important in politics and it was with great optimism that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy recently informed Sonia Gandhi that his welfare schemes have ensured four crore votes for the Congress. His break-up: 1.8 crore votes from the 60 lakh houses under the Indramma scheme (taking three members per family unit), 20 lakh from old-age pensioners, 80 lakh from Muslims because of the 4 per cent job quota given to them by YSR, 50 lakh from women in self-help groups because of the Government’s loans extended to them and the remaining from the farming community availing free electricity. AP has a population of around eight crore. However, YSR’s tall claims failed to convince the Congress High Command, according to party sources. The real issue, they say, is whether YSR himself is convinced about these numbers.