Campaign reaches crescendo in TN as D-day nears

Chennai, Apr 30 (UNI) With just a week left for one of the most fiercely fought battle of ballots in the history of Tamil Nadu politics, the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK, heading two major fronts, have revved up their campaign to woo the voters.

As the campaign entered the crucial phase and draws to a close on May six, leaders of Democratic People's Alliance (DPA) led by AIADMK Supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) headed by DMK President M Karunanidhi were making whirlwind tours in the state, seeking votes.

Both the leaders are leaving no stone unturned to outwit each other and doling out last minute promises in their final bid to woo the voters. Rice, the staple food of the people, which stirred the electoral scene after the DMK came out with the promise of providing it at Rs two a kg, emerged as the dominant issue in the campaign.

The DMK, virtually took the wind out of the sails of the AIADMK, when it released its election manifesto, listing an array of freebies, much to the joy of the electorate.

The promises included free colour television sets, distribution of two acres of land to the landless farmers and free power to weavers and waiver of farm loans.

The DMK was trying to fool the people by promising the moon to them,alleged Ms Jayalalithaa in her campaign, while Mr Karunanidhi, on the other hand, went all out to explain to the voters that the promises were feasible and would be fulfilled if the DMK was voted to power.

As the DMK promises gained raging popularity among the people, both Ms Jayalalithaa and her poll partner, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, who had ridiculed the DMK manifesto, had to fall in line with them.

Now except the colour television sets, the manifestos of both the DMK and AIADMK read alike.

In a bid to turn the table on the DMK, the AIADMK Supremo, went one step ahead, and announced that if the DMK promised to provide rice at Rs two per kg, the AIADMK would give ten kgs of rice free of cost per month.

And two days ago, Ms Jayalalithaa promised to waive farm loans, including the interest, another prominent promise figuring in the DMK manifesto. What remains in DMK's list of freebies, now is the Colour television sets to 54 lakh people living below the poverty line.

The DMK and its allies dub the AIADMK as a ''copy cat'' for adopting the promises of the DMK after criticising them, but the ruling party would not mind as it was not willing to leave anything to chance and let the elections slip out of its hands.

Both the fronts had drawn out distinct styles of campaigning.

While Ms Jayalalithaa dwelled on the achievements of her five-year regime, Mr Vaiko was given a free hand to launch a no-holds barred attack against the DMK and its family members.

In the very first round itself, Mr Vaiko took on the Sun TV and Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran only to invite a defamation suit.

When he charged Mr Maran with meddling with the issuance of licences to rival private tamil satellite channels, the Union Minister filed a defamation case, seeking a compensation of Rs one crore from Mr Vaiko. The suit is pending before the Madras High Court.

More UNI WS PK HT1136