Ramdas Athawale's statement that people will get Rs 15 lakh each in their bank accounts “slowly” has got the attention of the political as well as economic experts. This response by the Union Minister while addressing a query on black money is being perceived as a peek into NDA's mega plan strategy for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Talking about Narendra Modi’s poll promise in 2014 on black money stashed abroad, Union Minister and NDA partner Athawale said that people will certainly get Rs 15 lakh albeit “slowly” and that RBI was not giving the money despite being told.

“Rs 15 lakh will not come at a single time, it will come slowly. The government does not have so much money. The RBI was asked for money but they are not giving… An assurance was given but there are some technical difficulties. But Narendra Modi is a very active Prime Minister and has reached the people on many issues,” Athawale told reporters in Islampur in Maharashtra’s Sangli district on Monday evening.

We had earlier reported that the Centre is likely to announce universal basic income (UBI) in the upcoming budget. Athawale's statement is thus being read in the same context as the party gears up for its for a second term in power.

During the Lok Sabha election campaign in 2014, Modi had promised to bring black money back to the country. He had also said that the volume of black money is such that if brought back, every person in the country would get Rs 15 lakh each in their bank accounts.

Athawale, the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, also expressed confidence that the BJP-led NDA would win the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “Congress has won elections in a few states. But we will defeat them in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Narendra Modi will again become Prime Minister,” he said.

Last month, Congress president Rahul Gandhi lashed out at PM Modi, accusing him of betraying people on the issue of “providing two crore jobs per year” and depositing Rs 15 lakh cash in the bank accounts of common people.