TV off, DMK doles out theory this polls

CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ( DMK), the first to introduce the freebie culture in Tamil Nadu, has not uttered a single word about free handouts in its Lok Sabha election manifesto.

Instead, it has gone back to its roots and ideologies and has thrown more light on social justice and women empowerment issues.

Its arch rival, AIADMK, has promised everything from milch cows and goats to mixers and grinders in the hope that the gifts would land their leader J Jayalalithaa the prime minister’s role.

During the 2006 assembly elections, in which the DMK won, free colour TVs was one of the highlights of the party’s manifesto. They distributed over 16 million television sets at a cost of roughly Rs 4,000 crore.

Initially, the TVs were given to families below poverty line but later it was given to every household, especially in rural areas.

In its 64-page manifesto, that was released by party president Karunanidhi, the DMK also demanded full statehood for Puducherry, 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state Assemblies, 30 per cent reservation for women in the Central government jobs, waiver of all loans by small farmers and waiving educational loans of students belonging to backward castes.

There were certain points common between both the Dravidian parties in the manifesto. Issues pertaining to oil pricing formula, scrapping of foreign direct investment and an increase in the exemption limit for individual income tax payers, were also there in the AIADMK’s list.

The DMK in its manifesto urged the federal government to take immediate action to conduct a ‘referendum’ under the supervision of the UN among Tamils in northern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka.