Tuesday, May 2 2006 14:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: With campaigning for the May 8 assembly polls reaching its peak, political parties in Tamil Nadu are competing with each other to lure voters by offering more and more freebies.

It all started with DMK president M Karunanidhi offering rice at Rs.two per kg and free television sets to the poor. His bete noire, Chief Minister and AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, assured 10 kg of rice free of cost to all ration card holders.

Four grams of gold during marriage of poor girls was Jayalalithaa matcher for Karunanidhi's free television scheme.

Both the parties had assured the farmers that their co-operative loans would be waived, knowing fully well that NABARD, the financing agency for the co-operaive institutions, would not accept the scheme.

Karunanidhi had offered two acres of land to the landless poor free of cost and kerosene at subsidised rates. AIADMK sources said that their party also would come out with a scheme for providing kerosene free of cost to the rural folk.

The DMK chief had promised supply of LPG stoves to the families of poor besides an allowance to educated unemployed youth till they get employment.

Actor Vijaykant's Desiya Murpokku Dravidar Kazhagam (DMDK) went one step further offering 15 kg of rice free of cost and Rs.500 to the poor families every month for purchase of groceries. DMDK went to the extent of supply of ration goods at the doorsteps of the card holders.