YSRCP attacks TDP manifesto, leaders tear copies: ‘Bisi bele bhaath… a copy, mix… TDP won’t implement promises’

“This manifesto has no value because the TDP and Chandrababu Naidu are not going to implement the promises made in it. It is a tissue paper manifesto. It is the YSRCP Government which is implementing all the welfare schemes. The TDP can only dream of it,’’ he said.

Former minister Kodali S V Rao dumped copies of the manifesto, calling it “trash”. Water Resources minister Ambati Rambabu has proclaimed that the recent Mahanadu would be “the TDP’s last” as the party would be “decimated in the next election”.

The TDP retorted to this, prompting more reactions from the YSRCP.

Kanna Lakshminarayana, a leader from the powerful OBC Kapu community, who recently joined the TDP after quitting the BJP, said the YSRCP was “running scared” after Naidu released the manifesto.

“They are so scared after seeing the first part of the manifesto…What will happen later? They are so afraid that they have started abusing and using unparliamentary language in describing the TDP and a manifesto that would benefit women, backward class communities, unemployed youths, and farmers. YSRCP leaders are troubled and they are discussing each and every point in the TDP manifesto,’’ he said.

Lakshminarayana has been appointed in charge of the Sattenapalli Assembly Constituency – currently represented by Rambabu – from where he is likely to contest next year.

On Thursday, speaking at a public meeting at Pathikonda in Kurnool district where he disbursed the fifth tranche of farmer welfare scheme YSR Rythu Bharosa, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy himself attacked the manifesto.

“Chandrababu Naidu’s manifesto was not born in Andhra Pradesh. It is a bisibele baath manifesto taken from two parties — the Congress and BJP — and the recently concluded Karnataka elections. He also copied our party’s schemes such as Amma Vodi, Rythu Bharosa and put them together.’’

He added: “YSR (former CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy)’s schemes have been copied, Jagan’s schemes have been copied, BJP and Congress schemes have been copied. In the end, Chandrababu’s life is an imitation and a deception. He has no originality, personality, or character. He lacks credibility. Today, their leader does not even have 175 candidates that can contest in the 175 constituencies.”

Comparing the political situation in Andhra Pradesh to the battle of Kurukshetra, Reddy said the next war would be between the TDP’s “DPT” — an acronym coined to denote “dochuko (loot), panchuko (share), tinuko (eat)” — and the YSRCP’s DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer).

“I request you all to think wisely about what to choose,’’ he said.

The TDP manifesto titled “Bhavishyattuku guarantee (a guarantee for the future” promises a slew of freebies and welfare schemes for women, unemployed youth and farmers.

The TDP became the first party in Andhra Pradesh to release the manifesto, despite the polls being nearly a year away, in April 2024.

In the event of the TDP returning to power, Naidu has promised that women in the 18-59 age group would receive a monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 per month while mothers would receive Rs 15,000 per annum. The TDP manifesto also promises free travel for women in public transport and three free LPG cylinders per year to every household.