HYDERABAD: Taking a leaf out of NTR's populist schemes including Annapurna canteen which provided highly subsidised food items, Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu made similar promises to woo urban voters in the party’s municipal election manifesto.
Telugu Desam promised two rupees for a 20 litre mineral water bottle under NTR Sujala scheme in urban areas, rupee one for plate of tiffin, five rupees for a meal through Anna NTR canteen to be set up in select places if the party is voted to power.
N.T. Rama Rao’s two rupees a kg rice scheme proved to be his trump card in 1983 and a move that brought the party to power.
Following Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s highly successful Arogya Sri health scheme for the poor in corporate hospitals, Mr Naidu also promised to come up with a new right to health scheme for the poor besides high security for women, and a job for every family.
Mr Naidu asked people not to experiment with new political parties, but to vote for Telugu Desam which can provide a strong, stable and clean government.
His promises included a Nima like multispeciality hospital in every district headquarters, free government service through e-Seva, wifi at public places, besides many other benefits.
Mr Naidu assured metro rail for cities like Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, rupees 5 lakh life insurance for private drivers and cleaners.
Mr Naidu released the high end manifesto here on Thursday night making a slew of promises to the urban voters if voted to power.
He denounced the Congress for turning municipalities into garbage bins during its rule.
"Huge municipal waste generated will be converted into fertiliser and generate power under a centralised mechanism instead of dumping the waste on roads and other open places, which does not happen anywhere in the world," Mr Naidu promised.
