CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami promised to distribute free refrigerators for all rice ration card holders and enhance the reservation for govt school students clearing NEET from 7.5% to 10% to pursue medical education if the party won the assembly election and formed govt.Releasing the poll manifesto of AIADMK on Tuesday, which lists 297 assurances under 31 heads, EPS called it a ‘roadmap for governance’. “The manifesto is an action plan for the next five years that senses the needs and pains of every individual in Tamil Nadu and fulfils their aspirations,” he told reporters, flanked by senior leaders at the party headquarters. The manifesto carried the slogan “Paathukappana Tamilagam, Paarpotrum Valarchi” (Safe Tamil Nadu, laudable growth).The manifesto also contained other announcements EPS made during election campaigns over the past few months such as doubling the monthly cash distribution for women from 1,000 to 2,000 and a one-time relief of 10,000 to cushion the impact of rising prices. It has promised free bus travel for men, a benefit given to women by the DMK govt. EPS described the party’s manifesto as the “hero of the election”.The free refrigerator announcement stands out as it targets around 2.22 crore rice ration card holders across the state. On the promise of enhancing the 7.5% reservation to 10%, EPS said it would benefit scores of govt school students aiming to pursue medicine.Notably, some assurances made by EPS during the 2021 assembly elections, including free washing machines, were missing this time. AIADMK promises Rs 3,500 MSP for paddyThe promise of giving free LPG cylinders has been scaled down from six a year in 2021 to three a year now. In the healthcare sector, IVF treatment would be brought under the chief minister’s health insurance scheme, said the manifesto. Additionally, households installing solar panels would receive a subsidy of up to ₹30,000 for a 1 kW unit.It outlined infrastructure plans, including setting up an international cricket stadium in Coimbatore, expediting metro rail projects in Madurai and Coimbatore and fast-tracking the proposed metro link between Kelambakkam and Chennai International Airport. It also emphasised establishing an exclusive anti-drug task force to curb ganja and other contraband in the state. AIADMK promised crop loans availed of through cooperative societies would be waived, MSP for paddy would be fixed at ₹3,500 per quintal, and steps would be taken to ensure a remunerative price of ₹4,500 per tonne for sugarcane. EPS promised compensation of ₹25 lakh to fishermen who die during fishing expeditions.
