‘Within 40 days…’: Chandrababu Naidu’s liquor promise for Andhra Pradesh polls

Hyderabad:

During any election season in India, the pre-poll drinks flow like water. For example, ahead of the five state polls last year, the Election Commission seized liquor worth Rs 214.8 crore within weeks of the dates being announced. In Andhra Pradesh, however, post-poll liquor supply grabbed headlines – a promise made by former chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu before the polls.

The Telugu Desam leader made an enthusiastic promise in his home constituency of Kuppam – to supply high-quality liquor at reasonable prices if elected in the Lok Sabha and state polls.

“I tell you… within 40 days (of his TDP forming the state government), we will not only take the responsibility of bringing down the price of liquor but we will also take the responsibility of bringing down the price,” Mr Naidu declared to voters.

Mr Naidu’s pre-poll promise may seem strange, but in the context of the ruling YSR Congress’s alleged ban (in 2019), it appears to be a well-planned move to woo those who might want to take a drink. Two drinks, but voters who may drink. Loyal to Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The TDP has launched several attacks on Mr. Reddy and the YSRCP on this topic.

In November last year, ahead of the elections in neighboring Telangana, the TDP’s K Atchannaidu criticized the Andhra Pradesh chief minister for failing to fulfill the promises made ahead of the 2019 state elections. Addressing a party event in Vijayawada, he said, “Liquor has become a lucrative business… The revenue of the YSRCP government was a staggering Rs 110 crore as against 50,000 crore during the TDP rule rupee.”

The TDP also launched the same attack in 2022; party workers staged massive protests in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district against the YSRCP’s “anti-people liquor policy”.

Coming back to the present, Mr Naidu also attacked his rivals over the issue of liquor prices in the state.

“When I came to power, a quarter (bottle) was sold for Rs 60… now it is sold for Rs 200. So Rs 150 goes into Jagan’s pocket. Mind you… you drink a quarter every day, every 30 quarters per drink per month… So you are paying Rs 4,500 to Jagan every month,” the former chief minister claimed.

Jagan Mohan Reddy’s critics point to this and accuse him of apparently reneging on ban pledges even as revenue rises; Andhra Pradesh State Beverage Corporation’s revenue rises from 2019/20 170 billion in 2022/23 to nearly 240 billion rupees in 2022/23.

The APSBC managing director highlighted the state government’s commitment to reduce liquor consumption and said the excessive price of liquor was to curb consumption.

It is not just the YSR Congress Party that is being targeted by Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP.

Mr Naidu’s alliance partner, Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena, has targeted wineries and breweries allegedly controlled by the ruling party and its associates, including those producing local brands.

Mr. Kalyan accused the Chief Minister of “earning crores of rupees by selling these brands”.

He also claimed that 74% of total alcohol sales were supplied by just 16 companies.

“There are various brands…even Jagan and YSRCP brands and even ‘Power Star’ brand, as far as I know. A person who comes to power promising to ban liquor can earn 400,000 from liquor ,000 crore.”

The YSR Congress has also come under attack from the BJP on this issue.

State unit chief D Purandeswari slammed the state for “playing with people’s lives”.

“YSRCP leaders are using liquor to line their pockets and they are playing with people’s lives. This is wrong and as a protest we are doing this…” the BJP leader said while smashing a wine bottle.

Andhra Pradesh will go to polls in two elections on May 13. The combined results will be announced on June 4.

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