The populist promises made by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu [Images] for the forthcoming assembly elections will cost the state exchequer a whopping Rs 5,000 crore.
 
The ruling Congress party has termed Naidu's promises a result of 'unimaginable frustration'.
 
"He is so desperate to come to power that he is ready to make any promise to the people", said Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
 
"Look at our performance during the last five years and look at Naidu's performance during his nine-year rule. You will know why people are not willing to believe in him and take his promises seriously," YSR said.

He challenged Naidu to explain how he will get the money required for the direct cash transfer to the families. "During his rule, he had gone back on all the promises the TDP had made in 1994, including providing rice at Rs 2 per kg, electricity to the farmers at Rs 50 per HP and total prohibition. He lost total credibility by going back on his promises," YSR said.
 
Claiming that the Congress government had fulfilled all of its promises, he said, "Our performance has been 200 per cent."