Navaratnalu effect: Pension hiked 

Amaravati: The astounding success of Leader of Opposition in AP Assembly and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's Praja Sankalpa Yatra has become a cause for concern for the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP). After the Navaratnas announced by YSRCP received overwhelming response from the masses, the State government is now trying to control the damage. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who hasn't spoken a word on pensions in the last four years, has announced the doubling of pensions.

During his Padayatra, YS Jagan time and again mentioned that the YSRCP if elected to power would provide Rs 2,000 pension for senior citizens and Rs 3,000 for the physically disabled. At the same time, Chandrababu has always criticised YS Jagan's announcements. In this context, Chandrababu's decision to implement the same promise after four years is drawing sharping criticism from people.

"Chandrababu is only interested in electoral gains. With a month's time for election notification, Chandrababu is trying to woo the public with his antics," said pension beneficiaries.