TN announces freebies for farmers, women

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswamy rushed to announce several freebies for farmers and women ahead of the announcement of poll dates in New Delhi.

He said in the state assembly in the morning that a 24-hour three-phase free power supply will be ensured for agricultural pump sets from April1.

He also announced that the gold loan taken by the farmers will be waived off, and listed out various welfare schemes launched for the benefit of the farming community.

ADMK government was the only one that had waived farm loans twice during a five-year term, he claimed.

Loans got by Women Self Help groups will also be waived off.

Also, in a bid to ensure the support of the key vote bank of the backward caste Vanniyars, a bill to provide 10.5% internal quota for them in education and employment has been passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

That also helps to keep the Vanniyar-based Patali Makkal Katchi in the ADMK alliance. PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss had demanded 20 per cent reservation.

Palanisamy told the media that “we have waived crop loans of Rs121 billion at the request of farmers affected by storms, rains and drought.” Tamil Nadu and Puducherry votes along with Kerala in a single phase on April 6. The counting in all states will take place on May 2.

Nominations start on March 12. Scrutiny on March 20. Nomination withdrawal March 22. Total polling stations in Tamil Nadu: 88,936. The term of the Tamil Nadu assembly ends on May 24.

At the media briefing in Delhi, Arora was seen referring to the “highly sensitive situation in Tamil Nadu.” That obviously meant the state’s notoriety in atempts to bribe voters, about which every political party has been accused.

Arora announced that postal voting will be implemented for those above 80 years of age.

People over the age of 80 can vote by post if they wish. Voting time will be increased by one hour considering the pandemic situation. Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Campaigning for the Tamil Nadu election is in full swing, with leaders crisscrossing the state in hectic schedules. Palaniswamy has completed two phases, while Leader of Opposition and DMK chief MK Stalin is touring all 234 constituencies.

The ADMK, led by late chief minister J. Jayalalithaa in 2016, had garnered 45% of the votes and 136 seats, while the DMK got 35% votes and 98 seats.