The Union cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 8 made a major decision to extend free ration to the underprivileged until December 2028. The free ration is being distributed to the poor under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). This move of the government is a strategic step by Modi to lay a solid foundation for the BJP in preparation for the other upcoming state elections in the country. This move goes down well with the core voters of the BJP and set the narrative of the government that it is attentive to the needs of the poor.
The decision came a few hours after BJP’s magnificent victory in Haryana. The historic win of the BJP in Haryana on October 8 has boosted the morale of the party and established a clear trajectory for the next Lok Sabha elections. With this significant victory which led to BJP forming the government for the third consecutive term, the Modi’s dispensation is set to expedite decision-making in a display of its commitment to governance that prioritises the needs of the populace.
Definitely, the Modi cabinet’s decision to extend free ration to the poor till 2028 spotlights this commitment. This free ration policy is expected to strengthen the party’s support base by addressing one of the most important issues being faced by millions in the country: food security. The continuation of free food grain distribution is not merely a welfare move; it shows the political strategy of the regime. The BJP leadership is likely to prioritise other major decisions that suit the aspirations of the people.
After the victory in Haryana, the government is expected to introduce schemes and programmes that can further enhance its standing in the eyes of voters. Ahead of this year’s Lok Sabha elections, the BJP on April 14, 2024, released its manifesto with the tagline ‘Modi ki Guarantee’, and one of the major guarantees in the manifesto was to provide free ration under PMGKAY for the next five years. Even during the Assembly elections in five states including Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan in November 2023, Modi had announced that the free ration scheme for the poor has been extended for five years.
