Amaravati witnessed a symbolic spectacle last week as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accompanied by Deputy CM and JanaSena chief Pawan Kalyan and minister Nara Lokesh, rode in autorickshaws to inaugurate the “Auto Driver Sevalo” initiative — a welfare scheme aimed at one of the state’s most politically significant communities.
Over the past decade, the state’s roughly three lakh auto drivers have evolved into a decisive voting bloc, courted by both the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
The previous YSRCP regime had extended annual financial aid of ₹10,000 under the “Vahana Mitra” scheme — a move that helped it cement strong grassroots connections with the working class.
A senior TDP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, compared the political influence of Andhra’s auto drivers to that of Delhi’s 90,000-strong cohort that played a pivotal role in the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Now, the Naidu government — in alliance with the JSP and BJP — is seeking to deepen that engagement. Going beyond the YSRCP model, it has announced ₹15,000 annual assistance for eligible drivers, a grievance redressal system for payment issues, a Drivers’ Welfare Board, and a drastic reduction in green tax from ₹20,000 to ₹3,000.
The government has earmarked ₹436 crore for the scheme.
According to official figures, “Auto Driver Sevalo” will cover 2.25 lakh autorickshaw drivers, 38,500 passenger vehicle drivers, 20,000 moto cab drivers, and 6,400 maxi cab operators.
TDP state president Palla Srinivas Rao defended the move as both welfare-oriented and politically prudent. “Auto drivers are happy with the TDP government as we’ve maintained roads and law and order. We want to instill confidence that the government stands firmly with them,” he said.
Party insiders acknowledge that the scheme’s timing was strategic — it follows the “Stree Shakti” free bus service for women, launched in August, which reportedly benefits 1.8 million women daily.
Since that initiative had inadvertently dented the earnings of auto drivers, the government saw “Auto Driver Sevalo” as a compensatory measure to balance interests across social groups.
The YSRCP, however, has dismissed the move as “a repackaged Vahana Mitra”. Its leader, P. Gautam Redd, accused the Naidu government of falling short on its electoral promise. “Naidu and Lokesh had promised ₹15,000 to every badge-holding driver.
There are nearly 15 lakh eligible drivers, but the scheme covers only 2.9 lakh. Against a commitment of ₹2,250 crore, only ₹436 crore has been released — leaving out nearly 80%,” Reddy alleged.
Another YSRCP leader claimed bias in beneficiary selection, asserting that “auto drivers aligned with TDP-backed unions are receiving preferential treatment.”
Auto unions, meanwhile, remain cautious. “The scheme looks good on paper, but its implementation will determine success. Any bias in selection will defeat its purpose,” said an office-bearer of the Congress-affiliated Andhra Pradesh Autorickshaw Drivers and Workers Federation in Kadapa.
Ch. Kondandarao, president of the auto union in Gannavaram, echoed similar concerns: “Only a few have received the aid so far. The government should ensure that all eligible beneficiaries get their due.”
As Andhra Pradesh gears up for a politically charged period, Naidu’s outreach to auto drivers underscores how welfare, symbolism, and electoral strategy continue to intersect in the state’s evolving political landscape.
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