The DMK’s election manifesto, rightly termed as ‘heroine’ by Chief Minister and party president M. Karunanidhi, has won the hearts of the electorate in Tiruvarur constituency.
Informal talk with a cross-section of people in Tiruvarur reveals that the spectrum scam will not be an election issue. Moreover, people are not much concerned about skyrocketing price hike of essential commodities and severe power cut. “I do not deny the fact that prices of essential commodities have increased manifold in the DMK rule during the last four-and-a-half years. At the same, the per capita income of the common man has also increased proportionately,” says 53-year-old P. Mani, two-wheeler mechanic of Keezhavadampokkotheru.
Mr Mani said the DMK election manifesto, promising freebies, will influence voters to some extent.
Despite the allegations of corruption and drastic power cuts during the DMK rule, distribution of freebies, however, wield a stronger influence among women voters. “Poor people like me who do not have a steady income cannot afford to buy colour television set, mixie and grinder in our lifetime,” says V. Indira (55), a domestic servant of Azhagiri Nagar. She said she would vote for Kalaignar as he had contributed much for the development of Tiruvarur.
When asked bout the frequent power cuts and skyrocketing price of essential commodities, Ms Indira shot back, “Can we discard one’s husband just because he became ill in course of time?”
Painter B. Suresh (25) of Azhagiri Nagar, a first-time voter, said he will vote for Kalaignar as he is the son of the soil. Moreover, Tiruvarur got a medical college and a Central university only during the DMK rule.
There are, however, some voters who felt that the distribution of freebies had made the people lazy and led to scarcity of labour.
According to Mr S. Ravichandran (42), running a hardware shop on Panagal Road, distribution of freebies had made the people lazy and led to paucity of workers.
“People are not ready to work to make a living. They have become lazy. Though I am ready to offer a monthly salary of `6,000, no labourer is available” he said.
He also pointed out that all freebies, such as colour TV, mixie and grinder, were related to electricity. “Where will people get the electricity required to operate these appliances when there is already an acute power shortage in the state”, he asked. But he too felt the 2G scam will not be an election issue.