CUDDALORE: On the second stop of her campaign tour across Tamil Nadu ahead of the Assembly election, AIADMK general secretary and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa hit out at arch-rival, DMK president M Karunanidhi, who criticised her government for not joining a central electricity scheme, insisting that her government would not support a scheme that is not beneficial for the State.
“Under the Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme, the State government has to take over the debt of power distribution companies and the tariff will have to be revised once in three months. Such provisions would affect the public at large. How could we join the UDAY scheme? Does Karunanidhi support the scheme?” she asked, addressing a large, ecstatic crowd of party cadre who braved the scorching sun for hours together to catch a glimpse of their leader at Vriddhachalam on Monday.
Pointing out that Karunanidhi had repeated the allegation raised by Union minister Prakash Javadekar that electricity theft was rampant in Tamil Nadu due to the absence of electricity metres, the Chief Minister said metres have not be set up only for agricultural pumpsets and huts that get free power. “Does Karunanidhi mean farmers and hut dwellers are electricity thieves?” Jaya asked.She also refuted the DMK chief’s allegation that the CM was unapproachable for Union ministers.
The massive event ended on a tragic note when two persons died and about 10 sustained injuries amid the heat and crowd at the venue. Sources said Karunakaran David (62) from Chidambaram succumbed to a sunstroke and Radhakrishnan (45) from Jayamkondan died at a hospital in neighbouring Villupuram. At least 10 others sustained injuries when the large crowd jostled in excitement, causing a minor stampede.
In the last five years when she led the government, she initiated and implemented schemes that people really needed, like how a mother knows what the children needed, Jaya claimed.
“Only the mother knows what her children need. As per that I had implemented several schemes in the past five years. I know what the people require in the coming years, and will implement additional schemes for the welfare of the people,” she promised.
When natural calamities hit the district in 2011, her government responded swiftly for rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Power supply was restored in just two weeks.
But it took months for the then DMK government to do the same in 2008, she alleged.
Introducing the party candidates for the 13 seats in Cuddalore, Perambalur and Ariyalur districts, Jaya listed various development schemes implemented by her government in these places.
The government took over the beleaguered Annamalai University, and spent about Rs 525 crore in the last three years to improve it. “Due to this, students from poor families benefited since admissions are being carried out in a transparent manner based on merit,” she said.
During the function, Jaya released the CD of election campaign songs, which was received by senior AIADMK leader M Thambidurai.