The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Telangana on Wednesday, released its manifesto for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections in the state, scheduled to be held next month. The TDP has promised to focus on welfare and social justice, making special promises to the families of the people who lost their lives during the Telangana agitation for separate statehood.
In a major announcement, the TDP claimed that it would work to transform 'Pragathi Bhavan', a massive complex built by incumbent Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as his camp office, into a public hospital. Pragathi Bhavan comprises the Chief Minister's residence and office. The new complex spread over 10 acres of land and with about one lakh square feet of built-up space was built in 2016 close to the previous camp office-cum-residence of the CM in Begumpet and drew a lot of flak from opposition parties.
Though the manifesto has not given any reason as to why the TDP wishes to convert the camp office into a hospital it would not be the first time that a political party has announced making drastic changes to a building constructed by its nemesis.
Incidentally, the TDP maybe taking a leaf out of late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa’s book. When she returned to power in 2011, Jayalalithaa converted the massive Tamil Nadu Secretariat built by her rival and former CM M Karunanidhi into a multi-specialty hospital.
TDP has also promised that the Dharna Chowk in Hyderabad would reopen, adding that it will put pressure on the Union government to implement the Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation Act, 2014 along with other promises which were made at the time by the Centre.
As part of its promise to martyrs, the TDP said that members of 1,200 families will be given a job each along with a pucca house and Rs 10 lakh. Stating that they would make sure that the martyrs get special recognition in Telangana's history, the party said that it would set up a permanent memorial in the state.
As far as education was concerned, the TDP said that an additional budget of Rs 5,000 crore would be made for the infrastructural needs of educational institutes in Telangana.
It also said that it would set up medical colleges, dental colleges and animal husbandry colleges in every district in a phase-wise manner. The party promised to set up educational institutions in the name of Telangana idealogue Professor Jayashankar.
Promising skill development to unemployed youth, the TDP also said that a pension of Rs 3,000 per month would be released to them.
The TDP said that a 'Sub Plan' would be introduced for the BC community, besides the existing SC/ST sub plan being implemented. The TDP also promised the categorisation of SCs to ensure judicious distribution of reservation among all SC communities, a long pending demand by the Madiga community.
The party also promised to crackdown on belt shops selling illicit liquor, besides drinking water and toilets in each house in the state.
For the farmers, the TDP said that a state-level Commission for Agricultural Price would be formed and farmers would be supplied with 24-hour power supply. They also said that the IT sector in Telangana would be expanded.
“We are committed to implement promises in the manifesto completely,” the document states.
A Mahakutami or grand alliance in being forged in the state led by the Congress, which includes the TDP, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) and the CPI.
As part of the deal, the Congress is contesting in 93 seats, leaving 14 to the TDP, 8 to the TJS and 3 to the CPI, and 1 to the Telangana Inti Party.
Telangana goes to the polls on December 7 and results will be declared on December 11.