Phones, other freebies in AIADMK manifesto

With just 10 days to go for the Assembly polls, AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa sought to startle Tamil Nadu voters with a shower of freebies — 100 units of power free every two months, mopeds and scooters at half the price for women, waiver of all cooperative farm loans, reimbursement of education loans for unemployed youth, free cellphones, free breakfast for students in government schools, free laptops with Internet facility for Class 10 and Plus Two students, one sovereign gold for brides, Rs 500 Pongal gift coupons for all ration card-holders and free wi-fi in public places.

The AIADMK was the last to unveil its election manifesto, but it came with the latest googly of goodies — a repeat of almost all that the main opponent DMK has offered in its manifesto and much more to woo the women and the young voters, who form 25 per cent of Tamil Nadu’s electorate.

Releasing the manifesto at her Perundurai poll rally Thursday evening, Ms Jayalalithaa said she was happy bringing it out in the district where Periyar was born.

The election is now turning out to be a mammoth battle of manifestos and not just mega personalities. If the DMK promise of reimbursement of education loan for students and farm loan waiver appeared to slowly churn the electoral tide in the DMK’s favour, Ms Jayalalithaa’s manifesto makes a similar offer. Besides, for the farmers, she has promised Rs 40,000 crore fresh loans over the next five years. The manifesto also tried to dent Opposition attack on Ms Jayalalithaa’s government on two fronts — hike in power tariff and milk price, by offering free power for consumption of 100 units every two months and a litre of state-owned Aavin milk at Rs 25 (current price is Rs 37 per litre).

Significantly, the AIADMK, which faced Opposition flak for granite mining irregularities, has offered to come up with a new granite policy. And more significantly, the AIADMK has offered to set up a lokayukta to probe all corruption cases.

Besides, Amma banking cards will be provided to the poor to avail government services to cut through administrative hassles. Local temples will be given Rs 1 lakh for upkeep.

To woo government employees, the manifesto promises to implement the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations, revert to the old pension scheme and increase housing loan up to Rs 40 lakhs.