Freebies galore in DMK manifesto

Chennai, Mar 19: Seeking to woo the electorate again with promise of more freebies, ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu today said it would distribute free mixies or grinders to women, free laptops to SC/ST students and free rice of 35 kg to BPL families if voted back to power.

In the election manifesto released by DMK chief M Karunanidhi, the party also promised free bus travel to senior citizens besides free laptops to SC, ST and backward class students of government and government-aided colleges.

The manifesto also promised continuation of all welfare schemes implemented by the DMK government including free distribution of colour TVs and Rs one per kg of rice.

In the 2006 assembly polls, DMK's manifesto promising free colour TV, waiver of cooperative farm loans and one rupee rice scheme was instrumental in the party's victory.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had then described it as ''hero'' of the polls.

PTI