We will do what we have said;
We will say what we have done!
so says the election manifesto of DMK for the 2006 elections. The election heat is on and I was able feel it during my recent Chennai visit. Believe me, the election heat was hotter than the scotching Chennai temperature. With the media wars between Sun and Jaya TV have started, the fun has already begun. Ironically the people can enjoy this fun only till the election. All the dramas to woo the people will end at the day of polling and people will be left uncared irrespective of who comes to power.
Still I wanted to know what is in the game. So I started reading their election manifesto. Oops it’s really good.
• We will waive all the cooperative loans given to small and marginal farmers. • It will urge for declaring ‘Thirukkural’ as National Book • Instead of selling rice at the rate of Rs.3.50 per Kg. for the ration card holders as at present, we will distribute quality rice at the rate of Rs.2 per Kg. and bring cheers to women. • Keeping the recreation of women and their getting general knowledge in mind, during the days of celebration of Arignar Anna’s Birth Day and Thanthai Periyar’s Birth Day, for those homes without a television, a scheme for distribution of free colour TV Sets will be introduced and implemented. • For poor pregnant women, for three months before delivery and three months after delivery, maternity allowance of Rs.1000 per month will be given for six months.
says DMK. Their Manifesto starts with a brief history (stressing on ANNA and no mention of MGR) and hits out ADMK by pointing out ADMK’s 2001 promises which they failed to fulfill. Then moves on to stress on current UPA govt ‘s achievements and the promises for current election.
The Manifesto of AIADMK is really cool, the very first page hits Karunanidhi .Later it tells the achievements of JJ and how she fought back the injustice committed against her :-)
• After the demise of Peraringnar Anna, the Machiavellian Karunanidhi with cunning, deceit and vengeance made the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam his family property to serve his selfish ends. • Puratchi Thalaivar MGR considered that Puratchi Thalaivi J Jayalalithaa was uniquely endowed, being selfless, and with a high degree of intelligence, having an infinite capacity for hard work, and was ideally suited to carry forward the mantle of the party to lead it after him. • Karunanidhi, heartless like Dhritarashtra of the Mahabharatha epic, was only interested in establishing the dynastic rule of his family in Tamil Nadu as his sole ideal, and thus functioning with a selfish motive. He continues to function in the same way. • At that time when Puratchi Thalaivi demitted her office in September, 2001, as per the verdict of the Supreme Court she had vowed:- • “I will crush the opposition maneuvers, face the false case filed in the Courts again and after establishing my innocence, stand for election again and come to power once again as Chief Minister” • Fulfilling her vow, Puratchi Thalaivi emerged victorious. That is the mettle of the General Secretary of the AIADMK. Circumventing all the hurdles placed in her path, Puratchi Thalaivi proved to Karunanidhi and his coterie of sycophants the truth of the words: Whatever be the conspiracy against righteousness, righteousness will always win.
The remaining are achievements of govt which are AMMA oriented and can find minimum of one ‘amma’ word in every sentence. There are no big promises and big achievements but on a whole a very highly comprehensible manifesto covering all the topics. Probably the govt issued an order to all secretaries to report the achievement in the last 5 years and just added them in their manifesto.
But the point is who will be in? Till last year, we can blindly say that the DMK alliance will sweep. The first four years saw more stern governance and atrocious activities showing the stubborn and arrogant nature of JJ. The kannagi statue demolition, the Queen Mary’s college incident, taking over the land from Anna university, kicking out the govt employees who went on strike, ‘proper’ usage of ESMA, vaiko and POTO and nothing to beat the dragging incident of KK. O my God. Also the kanchi incident is also rumored to be master minded by JJ due to her interest in kanchi trust and some NRI hospital. Yet there were some good points. The stern governance and keeping the police, secretaries, collectors on their toes, No bending for any type of strikes , be it transport, govt servants.. anything. I really loved it, personally. I believe every govt should take action against those people who work in essential services and go on strike just for the heck of it. Also the free hand for police (with exceptions), trying to remove free electricity to the farmers, anti-conversion law are really the bold steps taken.
So DMK had definitive edge one year back. But amma changed her stand and was very liberal in the last year which softened tamilians mind and forgot about their previous problem and were happy about chandramukhi becoming a hit. Currently most of the tamilians are more vehemently praying that ‘shivaji-theboss’ should be a hit rather than for a good govt. Also the colorful promises of DMK has raised the eyebrows of many people and esp. the reservation to minorities will be a negative factor for DMK to loose out a good number of votes from elite crowd. Yet DMK had the edge and TN is the place where anti-incubancy factor had proved time and again and lets watch our future …
Regarding me?
I vote for anyone who promises to improve the bus quality of SETC and am ready to campaign for the party which promises VOLVO buses between Bangalore and Chennai .
