The Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led Opposition in Andhra Pradesh has come up with a unique promise ahead of the Assembly elections as well as the Lok Sabha polls in the state. They are wooing the voters with the promise of better quality alcohol in "reduced prices".
TDP supremo and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made the promise at a recent rally in Kuppam from where he is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"I am telling you, after 40 days (of TDP forming the government), not only quality liquor, we will take the responsibility for reducing prices (as well)," Chandrababu Naidu said.
He also blasted Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and his YSR Congress Party for going back on his 2019 poll promise of banning liquor in the southern state.
During his address in Kuppam, Chandrababu Naidu said it is the demand of "our younger brothers" that the liquor prices be slashed.
"Prices of all commodities have gone up exorbitantly, including liquor rates, which are flying. Our younger brothers cheer when I mention liquor. They want the prices of liquor to be reduced. It is Jagan Mohan Reddy who increased the price from Rs 60 (for a nip) to Rs 200 and pocketed Rs 100," the TDP chief added.
The YSR Congress Party government in Andhra Pradesh reportedly collected around Rs 24,000 crore through excise revenue in 2022-23 against more than Rs 17,000 crore in 2019-20. Notably, liquor is sold in Andhra Pradesh via government-owned outlets.
Chandrababu Naidu has, on several occasions, alleged the YSR Congress Party government of supplying poor quality liquor while profiting from increased prices, going up to thousands of crores of rupees.
Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief and actor Pawan Kalyan, who is an ally of the TDP in the NDA for the Lok Sabha polls, also jabbed the ruling dispensation in Andhra Pradesh. He said that people would fall sick if they continued consuming liquor supplied by the YSR Congress Party.
During a rally in Pithapuram where he's contesting, the actor alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy had "looted" Rs 40,000 crore through liquor sales. He also questioned why digital payments were not accepted for the purchase of liquor. "Where is the money going...about 74 per cent of the total liquor sold is being supplied by just 16 companies?" he asked.
Andhra Pradesh BJP chief D Purandeswari had earlier demanded an enquiry into the liquor business in the state.
Last month, the BJP-TDP-Jana Sena Party finalised a seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Andhra Pradesh. The BJP would contest six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats. The TDP, meanwhile, has been given 17 Lok Sabha and 144 Assembly seats. The Jana Sena Party has been given two Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly constituencies.
