YSR Congress promises 'golden era' in both Telugu states

Hyderabad, April 13: Promising to bring back the 'golden era' of late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in both

and

, the

on Sunday released its separate election manifestos for the two states.

The party promised that if voted to power, it would launch a new scheme called "Aamma Badi' under which Rs.500 for every school-going child will be credited directly in the mother's bank account.

The party also promised Rs.100 subsidy on cooking gas, provision of 150 units of power supply for Rs.100, construction of 50 lakh houses for poor, two lakh jobs for women in rural areas, Rs.2,000 crore calamity relief fund for farmers and waiver of Rs.20,000 crore loans of self-help groups.

The manifestos focused on both welfare and development. YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy said the party would bring back the 'Golden Era' of his late father. He claimed that YSR led the state on the path of development and prosperity and implemented several pro-poor schemes. He vowed to continue those schemes.

Jagan said Arogyasree, the free healthcare scheme for poor, would be extended to a super speciality hospital in every district in Seemandhra. He said this would compensate the loss of Hyderabad for the region.

For those who undergo surgeries under Arogyasree, Rs.3,000 per month will be given till they return to work.

The party also promised to build a new state capital for Seemandhra on par with Hyderabad. Jagan said if the party was voted to power, it would make both the states power surplus by 2019.

An eight-lane corridor from Srikakulam to Bangalore and Chennai, food processing, storage and packaging facilities in every district, petro university in Visakhapatnam, employment opportunities in petroleum sector, steel plant in YSR Kadapa district, metro rail in Visakhapatnam, development of existing airports at Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Vijayawada into international airports are the other promises made by the party.

Jagan said during the last four years, he visited remote villages in the state and saw the problems faced by the people.

On the promises made by Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the young leader said the party president Chandrababu Naidu lacked credibility as agriculture, industry, services and other sectors suffered under his rule.

Jagan reeled out figures to draw home the point that when his father was the chief minister (2004-2009), there was an all-round development and prosperity. He also gave the comparative figures when Naidu was chief minister from 1994 to 2004.

IANS