Ahead of the impending election to the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the DMK government of MK Stalin has deposited Rs 5,000 in the bank accounts of the 1.31 crore women beneficiaries of the flagship Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam (Kalaignar Women’s Financial Right Scheme), under which women were extended Rs 1,000 a month.
In what is seen as a masterstroke, the Chief Minister, taking a cue from Bihar, where beneficiaries were given Rs 10,000 on the eve of the assembly election, has deposited the amount before announcing it through a social media post in the morning, taking the wind out of the opposition’s sails. The assembly poll is expected in April-May, and as such, this comes days ahead of the Election Commission of India announcing the schedule and the Model Code of Conduct coming into force.
“Our #DravidianModel Government has pre-empted the attempt to stop the financial assistance under the scheme on the pretext of the election and has deposited the advance payments for February, March, and April, totalling Rs 3,000, together with a special summer allowance of Rs 2,000 for each beneficiary,” he wrote in a post on his ‘X’ handle. “It has been deposited in each account this morning,” he added.
Promising to hike the financial assistance under the scheme to Rs 2000 a month from the present Rs 1000 on returning to power, the Chief Minister said this is a pledge given to ‘his sisters, with whose unflinching support’ the #DravidianModel 2.0 will certainly come to power.
Since this was a bolt from the blue, the opposition is taken aback. The AIADMK, which has announced its first tranche of the manifesto to rechristen the scheme as ‘Amma Kula Vilakku’ (Amma Family Light) and enhance it to Rs 2000 per month for all ration card holders, has accused the DMK of copying it. “The DMK is shamelessly copying what we have announced,” is the reaction of AIADMK leader Vaigai Selvan, a former minister.
Seeing this as a sign of defeat, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani, in a statement, said, “This is a clear indication of the DMK being afflicted by the fear of defeat in the election.” Interestingly, this announcement precedes actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president Vijay’s rally at Salem later in the day.