Jaya declares ‘war of populism’ against Karunanidhi – 25.3.11 -- TOI

Arms AIADMK With Slew Of Freebies To Woo Voters Much Like What Has Been Her Bete Noire’s Election Strategy
R Satyanarayana | TNN

Chennai: AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa declared a war of populism against DMK on Thursday, opening her poll bag of freebies that more than matched the DMK’s. If DMK president M Karunanidhi had promised free mixies and grinders to women, Jayalalithaa sought to outdo her bete noire, offering both, plus a fan to each woman in the state. If that means increased load and power demand, the manifesto promises to provide three-phase power connection across the state in four years.
All families living below poverty line (BPL) have been promised 20 litres of water daily. Families below the poverty line now getting the government’s Re-1-a-kg rice would get 20 kg of rice free. This, however, does not match the DMK’s offer of 35 kg of free rice.
Jayalalithaa sought to pamper students — and thereby their parents — promising free laptops to all class XI and class XII students, and college students, besides four free sets of uniforms and a pair of shoes for schoolchildren. The DMK manifesto had promised laptops for first year students SC/ST, MBC and BC. The AIADMK manifesto proposes to set up a students’ protection force to guard children against attacks and trafficking. The AIADMK manifesto offers a big bunch of freebies for the financially weaker sections. It promises free houses of 300 sq ft each, costing Rs 1.8 lakh, to three lakh BPL families. Other promises for rural areas include 60,000 cows for 6,000 families increasing milk production from 2.5 million litres to 10 million litres. Families below the poverty line will also get four sheep. Women remain at the centre of Jayalalithaa’s scheme of things. Women’s self help groups will get loans up to Rs 10 lakh, with a waiver of 25%. Pregnant women have been promised Rs 12,000 during four months of maternity leave. Marriage assistance for poor women would be enhanced to Rs 25,000, with a four-gram gold coin as a special gift. For those women with a diploma, the wedding assistance would be Rs 50,000.
The manifesto gives enough reasons for the elderly, too, to grin. All persons above the age of 58 will be given free passes to travel by bus across districts. The DMK manifesto had promised free bus passes for senior citizens in local town buses. The AIADMK has also offered shelters for senior citizens.
For fishermen, if the DMK had promised an insurance scheme and increase in subsidised diesel, the AIADMK has offered a special protection force and an assistance of Rs 4,000 each during four lean months.
Political analyst Cho Ramaswamy called the populism an inevitable part of the electoral race.
BATTLE OF FREEBIES AIADMK has brought out its list of freebies for the elections. In many areas, it has gone a step ahead of its arch-rival DMK
AIADMK
20 kg of rice for all. Also, 20 litres of water daily
1 mixie, 1 grinder & 1 fan
Laptops for students from Class 11 & ITIs 25,000 & 4gm gold coin as marriage assistance
DMK
35kg rice for below poverty line families
Wet grinder or mixie
Laptop for all backward college students
15,000 marriage assistance for poor women