Number 1,00,000 ruled the roost in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: One lakh. Politicians continued their love affair with the figure as they had done in 2013.

When the Telugu Desam was in the opposition in the undivided state, it had alleged several times that YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had amassed Rs 1 lakh crore of public money. After the TD came to power after the recent general elections, its affinity to 1 lakh has continued.

Before presenting the state annual Budget, TD ministers had announced that the state budget would be around Rs 1 lakh crore. They had again said that to 1 lakh acre would be needed to develop the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh.  Also, the TD government has sent an estimate to the Centre, asking for Rs 1 lakh crore for the capital’s construction.

While campaigning ahead of the general elections, AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had made several promises like farm loan waivers among others. That, and the DWACRA loans crossed Rs 1 lakh crore.

A senior Cabinet minister commented that the party still had not shaken off the “1 lakh phobia”.

Changing tracks

While Mr Naidu had announced, after his swearing-in ceremony, that he would spend three days in Vijayawada, two days in Hyderabad and one day in New Delhi every week, he changed his mind in 24 hours and told TS TD leaders when they congratulated him for becoming CM  of AP that he would not leave Hyderabad till the TD came to power in TS.

Continuing with the double talk, when AP leaders met him, he told them that he would spend more time in AP.

In his election manifesto, Mr Naidu had announced Rs 2,000 per month for unemployed youth, but it has not been implemented yet. While he kept his promise and increased the retirement age of government employees by two years (58 to 60), his government denied the demand of public sector employees to increase their retirement age on par with government employees.

Mr Naidu had also promised to introduce a five-day working week after he came to power but that too has not been implemented.

Similarly, laptops to government staff, cycles to school-going girls etc. have remained as promises.

He has, however, kept his promise to increase various pensions like old age, widow, disable persons etc. If the trend continues, by the end of his five-year rule, Mr Naidu’s unfulfilled promises may cross 1 lakh.

CM Naidu has also decided to appoint a committee to look into including the Kapu community in the Backward Classes list. But no action has been taken so far.

However, if the trend continues, by the end of his five-year rule, Mr Naidu’s unfulfilled promises may cross 1 lakh.