AP Women Swing Towards YSRCP Sending Panic In TDP Ranks

3 Feb, 2019 14:01 IST|Sakshi
AP Women Swing Towards YSRCP Sending Panic In TDP Ranks

Y. Satyanarayana

Amaravati: Alarmed at the swelling tide of support among women voters for the YSR Congress party, the ruling TDP is pulling every trick in its bag to woo voters from the fairer sex. The latest pre-poll gimmick, YSRCP leaders point out, is the Pasupu-Kumkuma scheme under which Rs. 10,000 is given to women in 3 installments. This itself they say, shows how desperately the TDP is attempting to court women voters.

The TDP seems to be gripped by anxiety after surveys revealed a sweep for the YSRCP with women clearly indicating their preference for YS Jagan's party. AP has close to 1,80,00,000 women who can tip the balance. Significantly, women thronged YS Jagan's Padayatra route and also attended his public meetings in large numbers showing their overwhelming support to him.

YS Jagan's elucidation of Navaratnalu on which Rajanna Rajyam would be based, proved to be a huge hit with the womenfolk in all parts of the state, as seen during the course of the Padayatra. The YSRCP chief's commitment to ban liquor in AP in three stages has been welcomed by women, who have been bearing the brunt of the vice of addiction at homes, in the form of wasteful expenditure, resultant poverty, domestic conflicts and violence.

Arogyasri's revival is another promise which holds out hope to them, as does the fee reimbursement scheme, another successful welfare programme associated in popular mind with the late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, which YS Jagan has promised to restore to its full glory. Similarly, Amma Vodi, which is aimed at encouraging families with school-going children has proved to be extremely popular with women of AP. The YSRCP promises to provide Rs 15,000 towards assistance to all mothers who send their children to school.

YSR Asara in Navaratnalu, under which all loans pertaining to women’s co-operative societies would be waived, has come as a huge relief to women across the state, who are being hounded by banks after having been betrayed by Chandrababu Naidu. YS Jagan has promised that additionally, zero-interest loans would be issued. Payment of interest amount on loans up to Rs 50,000 would be borne by the government, he has stated.

YSR Cheyutha is another scheme in Navaratnalu which has been widely welcomed by women in Andhra Pradesh. Through YSR Cheyutha, the YSRCP intends to support all women from SC, ST, BC and minority communities, who are aged over 45. This would amount to Rs 75,000 per woman from these communities over a period of 4 years. The scheme has endeared women of the state to the party in large numbers, especially those drawn from SC, ST, BC and minority communities.

Another welfare scheme in the Navaratnalu, which is innovative and has huge appeal for women is Pedhalandariki Illu. Under this, in five years, the YSRCP promises to build 25 lakh homes for the poor. Permanent houses to the homeless poor will be built over a period of 5 years and registered in name of the woman of the household. The government will also take the initiative of providing an additional loan facility through banks at 0.25 paisa interest.

All these welfare programmes were repeatedly stressed upon by YS Jagan at his public meetings during the course of his 341-day long Praja Sankalpa Yatra, cutting through the length and breadth of the state and evoked an overwhelming response from the masses and from women in particular.

Rattled by the results of surveys and the increasing appeal for YSRCP among women, the TDP has been pressing its party machinery to propagate its Pasupu-Kumkuma scheme. The Chandrababu government in its desperation, even gave post-dated cheques to women under this scheme.

Not appearing to be lagging behind, the Congress apart from its promise of Special Category Status, is holding out the election sop of 25% seats to women. The party hopes that this will help it to retain its voter base among women, which is fast shrinking.

Also Read: Chandrababu Copying Navaratnalu In Desperate Bid To Woo Voters: YSRCP

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