Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 3: Congress president Rahul Gandhi again hit the unconditional consciousness of Indian public with Nyuntham Ayojana (NYAY), minimum income scheme on March 25.
NYAY is a categorical cash transfer programme for India’s 50 million poorest families. It is obvious that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not in any possible manner to take the sop of providing Rs 6,000 per month to the poor with less seriousness. According to a report in India Today, an internal study by the BJP has said that this poll promise of Congress party could impact 30 seats mainly in the regions where farm distress is at its peak.
The Balakot airstrikes bolstered BJP when Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets crossed the Line of Control (LoC) and destroyed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist camps in Pakistan.
Even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi positioned himself as 'desh ka chowkidar', a protector and a strong nationalist after the Balakot incident, the impact was momentary.
BJP’s new poll analysis shows that the NYAY programme announced by Rahul Gandhi promises Rs 72,000 a year to five crore poorest families might impact as many as 30 seats for the party.
A senior party official said that after Balakot the party was looking at 230-240 seats but now it is down by almost 30.
The impact of NYAY on voting behaviour is likely to be strongest in Chhattisgarh, where the BJP is expecting the maximum number of seats. Also, in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and some of the southern states such as Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
However, rural distress is an issue in Uttar Pradesh. The state is expected to vote on the basis of caste and identity.
In the last 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP had secured 71 seats in Uttar Pradesh, all the 25 seats in Rajasthan; 12 of the 14 seats in Jharkhand; 27 of the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh and ten of the 11 seats in Chhattisgarh.
Congress workers are boasting that while PM Modi gives the poor Rs 6,000 per year, Congress will give them Rs 6,000 a month. This narrative may sound compelling for the voters who have been at the receiving end of drought-like conditions and farmer-centric schemes that have not yet had the desired impact.
One of the BJP workers had said that the voters can decide whether to vote for someone who gave them gas cylinders, toilets, homes or someone who is promising them cash.