Realpolitik: DMK woos voters with freebies

Chennai, Mar 29 (UNI) Rice at Rs two per kg, free colour television, free gas stoves for all poor women, free power to weavers and reservation for Muslims and Christians are among the promises made by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in its election manifesto.

The DMK will supply rice at a low Rs two per kg to all cardholders in the state if it was voted to power in the May eight Assembly poll, DMK President M Karunanidhi declared after releasing the 34-page manifesto throwing a surprise on many counts.

Instead of selling rice at Rs 3.50 a kg for ration cardholders ''we will distribute quality rice at Rs two per kg and bring cheers to women,'' he announced.

On colour televisions, he said the promise has been made to provide recreation to women and help them gain general knowledge.

The party will distribute TVs to those who do not have one during birthday celebrations of Dravidian stalwarts Periyar E V Ramasamy, C N Annadurai.

Mr Karunanidhi said the party would enact a legislation, providing reservation for Muslims and Christians in jobs and education.

Besides, the DMK will request the Centre to bring a Constitutional amendment providing separate reservation for these minorities.

''We will ensure the concessions now available to the Adi Dravidars are extended to the whole of the community irrespective of religion,'' he said.

The DMK would also provide three lakh jobs for unemployed youth in government departments, which remained vacant after the Jayalalithaa Government slapped a ban on recruitment.

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