We have seen in previous article, how TDP fared in top-5 promises made in it’s 2014 election manifesto. ( https://www.telugu360.com/revisiting-tdp-manifesto-2014-part-1-review-of-top-5-major-promises/ )

There are hundreds of promises written in TDP manifesto spanning 50 pages and 14 chapters. In addition to the 5 promises discussed in previous article – waiver of farmers’ crop loans, waiver of loans by SHG (DWCRA), Old age pensions, Job or unemployment assistance to every graduate and 9 hours free power supply for agriculture, there are many other major promises in this manifesto. Some of them are below:

• Amaravati – TDP manifesto says, building new world class capital to AP is possible only with TDP

• Kapus to be included into BCs and 5000 crores for Kapu corporation

• Fisherman community to be recognized as STs

• NTR Sujala scheme– 20 lt mineral water for 2 rs for every house

• Mahalakshmi scheme, which would give Rs 2 lakh to each girl child by the time she is married.

• Anna canteens across the state – to provide food to poor at subsidized cost of 1 Re for breakfast and 5 Rs for meals.

• Abolishing belt shops

• Free education to Muslim girls

• Marriage assistance of Rs 50,000 for poor Muslim girls.

• 10,000 Crores to BC Corporation and 100 assembly seats to BCs

• 10,000 rs to born child

• Free laptops for every higher education student, Cycles to all High School going girls.

• Several promises related to castes – like recognizing Telika caste as SC (Currently BCs), Sagara caste as BC-A (Currently in BC-D, where more number of castes compete), , Pusala caste as BC-A (Currently in BC-D, where more number of castes compete), Are Katika caste as SC (Currently BCs), Kuruma caste as ST (Currently BCs), Valmikis as STs (Currently BCs), Padmasali as BC-A (Currently BC-B), Nagavamsam caste as BC-A (Currently in BC-D), Majju caste as BC-D (Currently OC)

• No retirement for Archakas

• Islamic Banking system and interest free loans for Muslims

• Recognizing Dalit converted Christians as SCs

• Housing for fishermen at cost of 1,50,000 near the shore and housing for weavers at cost of 1,50,000

• Employment to educated people and conducting DSC exam (for teacher recruitment) every academic year

• Building of growth corridors – like making Anantapur, Chittoor and Kurnool as solar electricity hubs, building pilgrim corridor that connects various pilgrim places of AP, New airports in Kurnool, Prakasham, Srikakulam and Nellore, Bullet trains to connect various cities of AP, Innovation clusters that connect with various universities.

Evaluation:

Needless to say, TDP has failed in all above promises made in 2014 manifesto. Of course there are some efforts in some promises like Amaravati, Kapu reservation but government could not progress because of lack of support from BJP led central government. But there is failure even from state government side on these.

Amaravati land pooling is done successfully but not much progress even for the amount that is sanctioned by central government. The state assembly was built as early as December 2015. . But the work is far from over — the high court, various government offices, as well as an entire city with residential and commercial spaces is yet to be built. Too much of delay in finalizing designs also invited lot of criticism from people and political opponents.

Kapu reservation is in the hands of central government. What state did was – it just sent assembly resolution to center. Why government needed 3.5 years to do that was the question. It is seen as stunt rather than honest attempt by the government by Kapus.

TDP has promised alteration of status of several castes. CBN promised to move some OC castes to BC category, some BC castes to SC or ST category and some BC castes from one sub-category to another. None of these are fulfilled but actually they created tensions among the castes.

Verdict:

Kapu reservation and Amaravati – not yet accomplished fully in 4 years of ruling even though some efforts put by TDP – 2/5

Failed in fulfilling all above promises (Except a few like Kapu reservation,Amaravati in which there are some efforts by TDP)– 1/5

-ZURAN