Hyderabad: During the election season, before voting, liquor flows like water. Last year, ahead of elections in five states, the Election Commission had seized liquor worth Rs 214.8 crore within weeks of the dates being announced, although liquor remains a particular issue in Andhra Pradesh in this year’s Lok Sabha elections. Former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had made a promise regarding liquor.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in his home constituency Kuppam, the Telugu Desam leader had made a rousing promise that if voted to power in the state, he would supply good quality liquor at reasonable prices to the people. Naidu said in his announcement, ‘I am telling you… within 40 days (after TDP forms the government), we will not only provide quality liquor (but) we will also take the responsibility of reducing the prices.’
The ruling YSR Congress has promised to implement prohibition (in 2019). Naidu’s pre-poll promise on this is enough to attract those voters who want to drink alcohol. Even if you like a drink or two. Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP has already made several attacks on Reddy and YSRCP on this issue.
While wooing the voters, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh said, ‘When I was in power, you used to get a quarter (bottle) for Rs 60… now it is sold for Rs 200. Therefore Rs 150 goes into Jagan (CM)’s pocket. Please keep in mind… you drink one quarter every day, 30 quarters per day per month… hence, you are paying Jagan Rs 4,500 per month.
In November last year, ahead of elections in neighboring Telangana, TDP’s K Atchannaidu criticized the Andhra Pradesh chief minister for failing to fulfill promises made ahead of the 2019 state elections. Speaking at a party event in Vijayawada, he said, ‘Liquor has become such a lucrative business… The YSRCP government earns Rs 1.1 lakh crore as against Rs 50,000 crore of the TDP government.’
2022 TDP had organized a massive protest in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh against the ‘anti-people liquor policy’ of YSRCP. Recently, Naidu has also attacked his rival over the liquor prices in the state.
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Tags: Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, liquor, New Liquor Policy
FIRST PUBLISHED: April 12, 2024, 22:14 IST