THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The NDA and LDF will use the distribution of free foodgrains by the Central and State Governments as a powerful campaign tool in the forthcoming Assembly elections. Efforts are being made to provide maximum free rice and food items through public distribution centers till April. The election notification will be issued in March as voting will be in April.

The government estimates that the free food kits and the increase in welfare pensions have helped the LDF in the local body elections. According to state and national leaders, the Centre's provision of free rice and chickpea to priority card holders in the state under the Prime Minister's Garib Kalyan Annayojana scheme during the pandemic period has helped improve the BJP's performance.

In addition to the Christmas kits this month, the state government had decided to continue the distribution of free food kits every month till April. In addition, non-priority cardholders (blue and white) will be given 10 kg of rice at Rs 15 as given during April and May during the lockdown. The government is also considering a plan to include more food items in the free kit and provide free foodgrains to priority groups (pink and yellow). If not completely free from the pandemic, the free food kit will be called Vishukit in April.

From April to November, the central government provided five kilograms of rice and one kilogram of chickpeas to the priority group in the state free of cost. The Food Corporation has the grain to continue this. The BJP has directed its constituents to convince the voters of the central plans, including these, before the elections.

In April, the state government provided 89,285 tonnes of rice free of cost to all cardholders. From April to last month, the Centre distributed 5,99,000 tonnes of rice free of cost in the state. This is the first time that the Center and the state have provided so much rice free of cost. So far, the state government has spent Rs 2,784 crore to provide free food kits (excluding Christmas kits).