Looking to make a mark in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Assembly Elections, the president of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has promised to provide liquor at just Rs 70 if voted to power. Somu Veerraju made the ‘spirited promise’ in Vijayawada on Tuesday.
Veerraju said the BJP, if it forms government in the southern state in 2024, would provide liquor at Rs 70 and would even try to sell the same at Rs 50 if there is enough money with the state exchequer.
“Cast one crore votes to Bharatiya Janata Party… we will provide liquor for just Rs 70. If we have more revenue left, then, will provide liquor for just Rs 50,” stated the Andhra Pradesh BJP chief, as per news agency ANI.
Speaking at a public meeting, the Andhra BJP president also promised several other initiatives.
Slamming Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress government and opposition Telugu Desam Party, Veerraju said the state has not seen development despite having abundant resources and long sea coast due to the political parties that have been ruling the state.
“I am telling you that one crore people are drinking ( alcohol) in the state. All of you people vote for BJP, we will offer you cheap liquor at Rs 75. If the revenues are good we will even supply at just Rs 50, (not bad liquor), definitely a good one,” Veerraju was quoted as saying by PTI, in an indirect reference to high liquor prices in the state.
The BJP leader pointed out that an average person in Andhra Pradesh consumes liquor worth about Rs 12000 per month. The Jagan Mohan Reddy government, which collects this amount, then transfers it back to the people in the name of the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme, he claimed.
Veerraju further promised that the BJP will make Amaravati the capital of Andhra Pradesh and will ensure the development of the region in just three years if it comes to power in the state.
In a controversial statement, the BJP state president likened Communists to “barking dogs”, while claiming that the Left parties have destroyed the country.
Former Union ministers Prakash Javadekar, Purandareswari and Rajya Sabha members YS Chowdary and MC Ramesh were also present at the public meeting.
