Prohibition may be on the way out in Andhra Pradesh

M S Shanker in Hyderabad

Has Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu forced Governor Krishna Kant to toe his party line?

In a sharp departure from the position taken in the recent past, the governor's address to the state legislative assembly on Monday made no reference to the Telugu Desam Party's prohibition policy. There was not one mention of this major issue in Kant's 32-page address, which indicates the AP government's inclination to reconsider its prohibition policy.

The governor himself is a strong votary of prohibition and championed the cause when women in the state launched a movement for a ban on arrack. Subsequent to the imposition of prohibition, Kant had on several occasions called for a plan to effectively implement the law. But the governor's customary address to the assembly at the commencement of Monday's budget session is drafted by the state government and Raj Bhavan has no control over the speech.

Still knowing his commitment to the cause, many expected Kant to say something on prohibition. Especially as the Naidu government is besieged by serious allegations of the involvement of some TDP leaders in bootlegging. None other than the chief minister's brother Krishnamurthy Naidu was arrested by the Chittoor police for violating the state's anti-liquor laws. Chandrababu Naidu w as forced to order an enquiry into the incident at the insistence of Congress leaders.

Last year, it was a different story. The governor's address contained a long paragraph on prohibition: 'My government is committed to total prohibition. We are, however, acutely aware that the success of the policy depends not only on the administrative machinery, but also on the willing co-operation of the public in general. The government has initiated various measures to strengthen the administrative and legal apparatus to deal effectively with the menace of illicit distillation and smuggling of arrack and Indian-Made Foreign Liquor. The penalties for contravention of the law have been enhanced recently to act as a deterrent. Prohibition Advisory Committees have been constituted at the state level to advise the government on various measures to be initiated for effective enforcement of prohibition.

'As a result of the consistent and sustained drive against smugglers, we have been able to substantially reduce the incidence of violation of the prohibition law. My government seeks the active co-operation of the public for further improving the implementation process.'

The governor's current silence further strengthens speculation about the state government's alleged move to revoke prohibition sooner than later. For some weeks now, the local press has hinted at a possible shift in the government's policy. Only the mass-circulated Telugu daily, Eenadu, is opposed to the move. In a recent editorial, it demanded that Naidu's government resign and seek a new mandate.

Eenadu felt the implementation of 'total prohibition' was an electoral promise made in the TDP's election manifesto and the ruling party had no moral right to go back on it.

What prompted the governor to give up his fight for the cause? Was it the fear of being asked to vacate Raj Bhavan as his term in office expired last year?

Source close to Naidu told Rediff On The NeT that Kant would get an extension in office as the chief minister has convinced the United Front government -- of which he is the convenor -- to do so. Kant's relationship with the chief minister is cordial and the governor played a somewhat ambiguous role when the Telugu Desam Party split two years ago.

When newsmen asked the chief minister on Monday whether the governor would get another term in office, Naidu responded,"Why not?"

Naidu's government is in deep financial trouble. The situation is so bad that the state government may not be in a position to pay the salaries of its employees for February. The chief minister is therefore under considerable pressure to revoke prohibition and recover the lost revenue. The estimated loss to the state exchequer due to prohibition is around Rs 13 billion.

The state finance department believes that Andhra Pradesh will be in the red by Rs 3.37 billion in the week ending February 15 and cross the Rs 5 billion next week, much higher than the Rs 2 billion limit allowed by the Reserve Bank of India. This may be a financial trap that the Naidu government will find extremely difficult to escape from.