With elections fast approaching, rival political parties are in a race to attract voters with fabulous schemes and gifts. After PM Modi brought 10 per cent reservation to win over upper caste middle class families, AP CM Chandrababu Naidu effectively countered its impact by announcing Rs. 10,000 cash gifts to poor women members of DWCRA groups. Now Naidu went a step ahead and announced Rs. 2,500 per acre financial assistance to farmers and it will be paid before the coming election.

Named Annadatha Sukhibhava, the farmers’ scheme involves provision part of the amount to tenant farmers also considering their contributions to agriculture. The TDP leaders say Naidu is coming up with many more such schemes to attract all sections of the people. They hit back at criticism that the TDP is copying the welfare promises made by Jaganmohan Reddy. They say the Andhra people are not innocent to blindly believe whatever Jagan speaks considering his dubious track record.

Even Congress National President Rahul Gandhi has come out with Minimum Income Programme for the poor families which has created a sensation in national politics. While this is how BJP, Congress and TDP are approaching voters, the Jana Sena Party and the YCP are lagging behind in this respect in AP. Jagan and Pawan are also facing pressure for their party men to announce such schemes.