Karunanidhi promises sops for poor

Chennai: "One kilo of rice for Rs2 (16 fils)" was the catchphrase a determined 83-year-old M. Karunanidhi, president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), used as he started his poll campaign tour from the Saidapet constituency in Chennai yesterday.

The DMK leader, who did not seem to be in the best of health, was supported on the stage by federal Minister of Telecommunications Dayanidhi Maran and other party leaders.

He received a rousing welcome from the people of the constituency from where he was elected in 1974 and went on to become chief minister.

His rival Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha also started her election tour from this constituency nearly two weeks ago.

The searing afternoon heat did not deter hundreds of diehard DMK supporters as they crowded around the colourful podium erected on Saidapet main junction to hear him.

"I've come to hear him because he's such a great orator," said a young hotel worker in the crowd.

Marimuthu, a DMK supporter for generations, and his wife Padmavathi braved the heat to be present to "send off" their leader on his election tour. "It's our duty to be here," said Marimuthu.

In his short speech, Karunanidhi reiterated that he would deliver his promise of "One kilo of rice for Rs2" made in his election manifesto at all cost. "I know people are ridiculing me but I will show them," he said.

Karunanidhi has also promised to provide free of cost one colour television set for all poor families and grant Rs15,000 for the marriage of their daughters.

His offer for distributing free land has recently been challenged by AIADMK president Jayalilatha.

"I was one of the first leaders to take steps to abolish hand-pulled rickshaws," he said in his deep voice, which has not lost its resonance despite the age.

"People mocked me then when I came up with that proposal but I showed it is possible. In a similar way, I shall show that one kilo of rice for Rs2 is possible," he said. He urged the people to vote for the DMK alliance partner Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)'s candidate Bhaskar in the Saidapet constituency.

After this brief interaction, Karunanidhi got on to his vehicle adorned with the DMK symbol, the rising sun, and took off to his next stop Tambaram.

Karunanidhi's first day of campaign wound up at night at Villipuram, nearly 100km from Chennai.