A few ministers who spoke to The Sunday Guardian on the lobbies of the Telangana Assembly which began its two-week long winter session on Friday, said many ministers and TRS MLAs were not sure of the impact of demonetisation. When they expressed their woes to the CM, he counselled them on the subject.
“When I asked Sir (CM) how I could fight the next elections if there is no cash to distribute to the public who expect some money from the leading party contestants, he said we should be ready to fight elections like in the US, where every candidate explains their manifestos and policies and people decide the best among them,” said a minister from Secunderabad, preferring anonymity.
The minister, who is in the public life for over two decades, however, confessed that he spent around Rs 10 crore for an election two years ago, which is several times the amount stipulated by the poll panel. “It is a fact. Without distributing big currency notes, sometimes it is difficult to get votes,” he said.
This minister who rose from humble beginnings is popular in his area where a large number of poor and lower middle class people live as he has offered financial help to the needy. “Many times, people come to me with wedding cards and I offer them cash of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. But how can I do it now if I have no cash in my hand?” the minister asked.
A few other ministers voiced their doubt before the CM on the likely impact of demonetisation. KCR told them that they better prepare to switch to a new lifestyle where everyone will have to use more electronic money, mobile banking and apps.
As of now, most of the ministers don’t know how to use a mobile app or net banking. Nine out of the total 18 members in the Cabinet don’t have credit cards and some of them have never used their debit cards. KCR’s son and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao and Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao are in the forefront of switching over to the electronic transaction mode. Harish Rao, in fact, has taken up the responsibility of making his Assembly constituency Siddipet as cashless within a year. Harish told this newspaper that “We have no other go but to switch over to cashless economy”.
“There are some quick learners and some late learners. We are planning to introduce orientation classes for all our leaders including MLAs on going cashless. The CM will announce the details of the classes,” said a government whip who wished not be quoted while talking to this newspaper. KCR who made a statement in the Assembly on the impact of demonetisation on the state on Friday said that he told the PM last month that going 100% cashless may not be possible in the near future, but managing with less cash is possible.