Andhra Pradesh Elections 2024: A Battle of Promises and Power

Voting in all 175 assembly constituencies and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh concluded on May 13, 2024. Out of 175 seats in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, 29 of which are set aside for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and seven for Scheduled Tribes (STs). The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chose to work with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), whilst the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) is running for office alone. The TDP contested 144 of the 175 seats, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) contested for the rest of the seats. The 175 Assembly seats collectively represent a population of almost 4.80 crore.

The schedule of the election was announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on March 16, 2024.

Image: Timeline of the election scheduled in Andhra Pradesh (Source: Author)

In keeping with traditional campaign tactics, the parties have produced detailed election manifestos. An extremely competitive election was anticipated as a result of the numerous promises and commitments made in their manifestos.

Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP)

On April 21, 2024, the YSRCP announced the manifesto promising to extend existing welfare initiatives for the upcoming five years. The party promised to gradually increase welfare pensions from ₹3,000 to ₹3,500 per month. The YSRCP has also suggested governing the state from Visakhapatnam, proposing to make the city the executive capital. It has also announced plans to establish Amaravati as the legislative capital and Kurnool as the judicial capital.

In addition to maintaining nearly all of the programs that were launched in the previous five years, the party has increased the funding required for certain programs, like Amma Vodi, which now costs ₹17,000 annually instead of ₹15,000. While giving ₹60 thousand in four installments to YSR Kapu Nestam, it will be increased to ₹1,20,000 in the next five years.

The party includes a zero-interest loan benefit as well. Nearly Three lakh people will receive loans under the YSR Zero Paisa Interest scheme, providing financial assistance without interest. Financial assistance is to be given by the party to women from low-income families. Increased from the current ₹75,000 to ₹1.50 lakh, the sum under the YSR Cheyutha scheme would be granted in four stages. Therefore, there will be four distinct phases in which this enhanced amount will be provided.

The implementation of the Housing Scheme was also a priority in the YSRCP manifesto. The YSRCP guarantees that all eligible individuals who lack housing facilities will get house pattas, seeing housing as a fundamental right. The YSRCP manifesto also mentions the farmer’s scheme. The Rythu Bharosa scheme would be extended from ₹67,500 to ₹80,000 per person, benefiting 53 lakh farmers in the state. A significant action to aid the Dalit Community declaring a habitat with a population of more than 500 Dalits as a separate panchayat, with an emphasis on social justice, is a new concept included in the YSRCP manifesto.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA)

On September 14, 2023, the leader of the Jana Sena Party (JSP) formally declared the tie between the two parties in the 2024 elections, capping intense rumors of an alliance between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP). On March 9, 2024, the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released a joint statement on behalf of the BJP, TDP, and JSP. The statement declared the TDP’s admittance to the NDA and the formation of the BJP, TDP, and JSP alliance for the upcoming Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The coalition parties have agreed to compete for all 175 seats, with the TDP taking 144, the JSP 21 and the BJP 10. The alliance has chosen candidates from several lists.

One of the main assurances in the manifesto is the creation of 20 lakh jobs in the next five years. Unemployed youth will be given an allowance of ₹3,000 per month, according to the manifesto. Interest-free loans of up to ₹10 lakh for women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), cash benefit of ₹20,000 per year to farmers, ₹15,000 for every school child under ‘Talli ki Vandanam’ scheme, and an allowance of ₹1,500 for women aged between 19 and 59.

Further, the party promised free bus travel to women. They will also get three free gas cylinders per year. Apart from the TDP’s Super Six schemes, JSP’s Shanmukha Vyuham has also been added. Every house shall have access to protected drinking water through a tap system. To increase the productivity of the people, a skill census shall be conducted across the State.

Implementation of the 10% quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) brought in by the NDA government. Amaravati will be developed as the capital. Party’s first signature will be on Mega DSC. The party has proposed to release a job calendar every year, and will support MSMEs, introduce industry-friendly policies and bring in large-scale investments to Andhra Pradesh. The party has vowed to encourage sports and make digital libraries available. Along with job creation, they will ensure the upskilling of the youth.

The Backward Classes (BCs) will get pension from the age of 50, along with a special protection act. The estimated outlay under the BC sub-plan will be more than ₹1.50 lakh crore. The Alliance will restore 34% of reservations for BCs in local bodies, and will recommend to the Centre to implement 33% of reservations for BCs in the legislature. Nominated posts will be given to communities that have low populations. Corporations will be established for 140 BC castes based on their proportion and economic conditions which will be thoroughly evaluated. It also claimed to spend ₹10,000 crore per year on self-employment for BCs. Through the ‘Aadharana’ scheme, NDA will spend ₹5,000 crore and upskill them.

The dairy sector will be supported via insurance for cattle. For the weaving sector, free electricity of up to 200 units for handlooms and 500 units for power looms will be provided by the coalition leaders. An honorarium of ₹25,000 will be paid to Nayi Brahmins working in temples and 200 units of free electricity will be provided to their shops. The party will implement a 10% reservation for toddy workers in liquor shops, provide 200 units of free electricity for dhobi ghats, and pay ₹20,000 to fishermen during the annual fishing ban.

Coming to government employees, assurances like payment of Interim Relief (IR), constitution of a Pay Revision Commission (PRC) and addressing of their other grievances were mentioned in the manifesto. The TDP chief reiterated that the honorarium of volunteers would be increased to ₹10,000 and that ₹15,000 crore would be spent on Kapu welfare.

The party mentioned the increase in the old-age pension to ₹4,000 and implement it from April 2024. Disabled people will receive a pension of ₹6,000 per month. Those with severe disabilities will get ₹15,000. Apart from the annual assistance of ₹20,000 for farmers, the party will also ensure nine hours of uninterrupted power supply and free installation of solar pump sets, apart from a 90% subsidy for drip irrigation. Houses will be built for beneficiaries on two cents of land in urban areas and three cents in rural areas. Journalists will also be included in the housing scheme, the leaders said.

Conclusion

The ruling YSRCP and the opposition alliance NDA were fiercely battling for dominance as Andhra Pradesh prepares to vote for its 175-member Assembly on May 13, 2024. The election manifestos described their promises and goals. Each party has its own vision for the state’s future, which encompasses education, healthcare, infrastructure, and jobs. Overall voter turnout surpassed 69 percent in Andhra Pradesh. It will be interesting to see which party’s promises resonated more with the electorate when the results are announced on June 4, 2024. The outcome will reveal which issues and commitments swayed the voters, shaping the future political landscape of the state.

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