TDP chief apes Jaya's schemes

As the 2014 Lok Sabha election nears, TDP chief N Chandra Babu Naidu has promised voters that he will launch grand schemes that seem to be motivated by AIADMK chief Jayalalitha’s ‘Amma’ schemes in Tamil Nadu.

While poll opponents question what Naidu has done for farmers or the poor, the TDP supremo has announced populist schemes for the Telugu-speaking states of Telangana and Seemandhra, which will be formed once the bifurcation process of Andhra Pradesh is completed on June 2.

From crop loan waivers to free mobile phones for women in self help groups, Naidu has switched to luring voters with something even better. He has said that if the TDP were to be voted into power, he would launch NTR canteens that would serve meals for Rs 5 to the poor.

Only recently, the MIM party launched canteens in Hyderabad that provide mid-day meals to the poor for the same rate. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is expected to start the Rs 5 per meal scheme centre in five more places in the next two to three days.