Will freebies give Tamil Nadu outfits a free run again? The jury is out

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu elections may be fought on welfare schemes and freebies yet again but the big question is whether voters would be influenced by the weight of the goody bags.

AIADMK, which traditionally chose to restrict welfare to basic necessities, changed tack in 2011and promised everything from goats to grinders even though the 2G scam had built up anti-incumbency against DMK.After its poll win came the Amma canteens, pharmacies, cement and bottled water. The state-run canteens especially, which cater to urban poor and migrant workers, have been widely appreciated and are now being adopted by other states.

Now, in the run-up to the current poll, both parties’ manifestos will be keenly analysed. There are also outliers like Anbumani Ramadoss’ PMK which has promised to do away with the freebie model.

In the run-up to the announcement of the poll schedule, the ADMK government rolled out some sops. In the past five years, it has spent several thousand crores on various welfare schemes under the Amma brand with food subsidy alone costing the exchequer Rs 25,000 crore.

But parties like PMK are opposing freebies. DMK is criticising schemes introduced by Jayalalithaa in the name of Amma, but is silent on its own freebies like TV sets.

Analysts say whichever party wins, schemes like subsidised canteens and pharmacies will continue, probably under a different name.

PMK’s Ramadoss said freebies will not have an impact on voters this time. “Even in the last election, it did not have a big impact. In 2006 alone there was an impact. But in the last election, even after offering so many free things, DMK came third.”