India launches huge food subsidy plan, fanning election rumours India has more poor than all of Africa. The Indian government has sidestepped its own parliament to rush into law the world's largest food subsidy scheme - cheap rice, wheat and millet for 800 million people - but the government's haste has reignited rumours India might be headed for early elections. The Food Security Bill, passed by ordinance and signed into law by the President just before midnight Thursday, will guarantee cheap grain for 67 per cent of India's population, or about 800 million people. Every eligible person will be entitled to five kilograms of rice for three Rupees (5.4 cents), five kilograms of wheat for two Rupees (3.6 cents), and five kilograms of millet for one Rupee (1.8 cents). The ambitious plan - its critics argue it will be corrupted and misused like so many previous programs to feed the poor - will push the amount the government spends feeding its population beyond $21 billion a year. Critics of the food program argue India cannot afford more ""subsidy politics"" at a time of slowing economic growth and increasing fiscal deficit. "India's current macroeconomic position does not provide the space to implement this policy," Sonal Varma, an economist with Nomura Securities, said. But there are more hungry children in India than in all of Africa, and proponents argue food shortages must be the country's highest priority. Food security Some 42 per cent of Indian children are malnourished, despite the fact the food exists to feed them. A third of the food grown in this country rots before it can get to market because of poor infrastructure. By legislating food security, the Indian government is making a commitment to the people. It is a sign that the issue is being taken seriously," UN special rapporteur on food Olivier De Schutter said. Food security has long been a pet project of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, and rolling out this program was a promise for the ""first 100 days"" of a government that is now more than four years old. But it is the timing and the extraordinary manner in which the bill was made into law, that have sparked speculation of an early election. The cabinet passed the measure unanimously, but, leery of opposition on the floor of parliament, passed it as an ordinance, which meant the formality of the President's signature made it into law, though it must now be passed by parliament within six months to remain). No debate Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said the law should have been debated in parliament. This is a deliberate attempt to denigrate parliament. Why this hurry? Are they going for early elections? The food security bill is considered key to Congress's chances in a national election, due by May. But with several key state ballots, in which Congress is forecast to struggle, falling late this year, the central government may wish to capitalise on the food bill's broad popularity by going to the people first. As well, there are growing cracks of dissension within the opposition coalition, the National Democratic Alliance, in particular over Narendra Modi as the presumptive Prime Ministerial candidate, and an early poll could expose those divisions. Congress figures have even hinted a sudden poll is being seriously considered. "There are indications from New Delhi about elections being held in October or November," Karnataka Congress chief G. Parameshwara said. The opposition believe it. New developments are happening on a day-to-day basis. We do not rule out early elections," a senior strategist with the BJP said. Diplomatic sources have told Fairfax Media an election is highly unlikely before the new year, but some in Congress appear tempted to test the popularity of their signature policy: "If it wins us votes, then that is an after-thought," senior party leader Tom Vadukkan said this week. Naturally anything good that you do gains you popularity.