While the country is demanding booster shots against Covid, BJP in Andhra is promising a "Boozeter" shot to perk up its political stock in the state.
Andhra BJP Chief Somu Veeraju has promised liquor at Rs 50 per bottle if the party is voted to power in 2024 Assembly polls.
Veeraju told a public meeting in Amravati that if the BJP gets 1 crore votes in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, people will get liquor at Rs 70. He further tried to raise the spirits by promising to slash down the price of liquor bottle to 50 rupees if the state revenues are good.
“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 said indirectly pointing to high prices of liquor in the state.
The BJP leader was trying to capitalise on the high liquor prices in the state due to state taxes. The government, however, says that the high prices are in line with its policy of reducing liquor consumption among the poor.
Referring to some of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government's Direct Benefit Transfer schemes, the BJP leader said on an average a person consumes liquor for about Rs 12,000 per month and Jagan Reddy is collecting all that amount and giving it back in the name of a scheme.