Its officials fear that the programme would get mired in malpractices due to highly subsidised prices of food grains. A senior cabinet member, who saw the presentation, said the department requested an additional staff of 2,345 employees for the implementation of the programme and Rs 85 crore annually for paying salaries and allowances. In addition, Rs 14 crore would be needed for resurrecting 11,835 ration shops, out of the existing 50,645 shops, to make them economically viable and that state might require equal number of additional shops after December 1.

Another contentious issue the state would have to deal with is the selection of rightful beneficiaries. While the number of beneficiaries from rural areas would go up by 45 lakh, the number in urban areas was set to see a drop of 1.5 crore, mentioned officials in the presentation. Sources said ministers, after watching the presentation, argued that they might lose the elections.