AIADMK caught unawares as DMK promises slew of welfare schemes

Chennai, March 8 : The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo MK Stalin promised a slew of development projects during his mega roadshow at Siruganur in Trichy if voted to power. This has reportedly put the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on the backfoot.
One of the sops promised by the DMK includes Rs 1,000 for “Kudumba Thalaivi” or the head woman of the household.
The joint AIADMK-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) alliance was comfortably placed in the driver’s seat with the recent implementation of 10.5 per cent reservation for the powerful Vanniyar community under the Most Backward Class (MBC) category.
However, Stalin in his public meeting “Vidiyalukkana Muzhakkam” (Call for the dawn) at Siruganur in Trichy on Sunday addressed a major gathering which has altered the AIADMK’s plans.
Stalin has vowed to take forward the state in seven critical areas — economy, agriculture, water resources, urban development, education and health, rural infrastructure and social justice.
Stalin has put across his development agenda for Tamil Nadu ahead of the release of the party’s election manifesto on March 11. The DMK leader also promised to take forward the economy of the state to Rs 35 lakh crore in the next 10 years, taking the state’s per capita income to Rs 4 lakh.