Chandrababu Naidu is using Pawan Kalyan to divide votes: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

Repalle: YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday alleged that TD supremo and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had joined hands with actor Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena to divide the anti-incumbency vote.

“He has of late promoted and financed a petty party which has identical colours of our party. he has joined hands with an actor who could not dare contest in alliance with the TD as he knows well that the TD is a sinking boat and he too will drown into oblivion,” the YSRC chief said at a series of packed public meetings in Guntur and Krishna districts.

“The purpose is to divide the anti-incumbency vote and play the card of social groups which will not work in this charged up atmosphere which is overwhelmingly seeking a change,” Mr Reddy said.

Mr Reddy said, “Do not get carried away by the short-term gains being shown by Chandrababu but have a look at what is ahead of you which is social, economic and financial empowerment under the Navaratnas,” referring to the nine promises the YSRC has made.

“There is neither law nor order in the state. A woman officer was assaulted by a ruling party MLA and an innocent girl has committed suicide in a hostel but no action has been taken,” he said and added that the YSRC in power could make protection of women a priority. Assuring social, economic and financial empowerment of women, financial aid to farmers and employment opportunities to youth, Mr Reddy said, “I am with you.”

“Women who have a major say in the economy will be given financial and economic empowerment with zero per cent interest loans. All loans till the elections will be waived in four instalments. All women in the age group of 45-60 groups belonging to marginalised sections of society will be given Rs 75,000 in four years,” Mr Reddy said.

For sending two children to school, Rs 15,000 would be deposited into the mother’s bank account and fee reimbursement would be effectively implemented besides providing scholarships and mess charges to students, he said.

Mr Reddy assured the farmers that Jalayaga-nam will be taken up and all irrigation projects completed. Farmers would be given advance loans before the sowing season and minimum support price would be announced in advance. The YSRC on coming to power would set up market stabilisation fund and natural calamities relief fund.

He said agriculture and aquaculture had been taken a back seat and Mr Naidu had turned into the “the captain of middlemen” by buying farm produce at very low rates and making huge profits by selling them through retail outlets.

Whenever the TD came to power, Mr Naidu’s family-owned Heritage Foods made huge profits and the cooperative sector would be neglected. “We will provide subsidy for milk procurement in the cooperative sector,” he said.

On the housing front, Mr Reddy said, Mr Naidu had taken up the scheme to benefit select contractors by awarding contracts at double the price. “The beneficiaries have to pay EMI for over 20 years. When our government comes to power, we will waive all the loans immediately,” he said.