The Assembly elections will usher in a change of regime and pave the way for the deliverance of people from the bondage of the present ruling class, according to Jayalalithaa, AIADMK general secretary.
At a public meeting held here on Wednesday, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that in the last five years, people were put to great hardship by soaring inflation, but the Karunanidhi government had done nothing to check price rise. The price of petrol had gone up by Rs.15 a litre in the past one year.
Ms. Jayalalithaa listed essential commodities, whose prices had shot up beyond the reach of the people: rice that was sold at Rs.15 a kg was now priced at Rs.42; sugar Rs.35 a kg (earlier price Rs.13), toordhal Rs.90 a kg (Rs.28), tamarind Rs.110 a kg (Rs.35) and garlic Rs.250 a kg (Rs.38 a kg). The price of cement had gone up from Rs.150 a bag to Rs.280 and bricks from Rs.2,500 to Rs.13,000 per truckload.
The State, which enjoyed power surplus during her rule, had turned chronically power deficit. This, in turn, severely impacted the growth of the industrial, agricultural and textile sectors.
Ms. Jayalalithaa said that the State had loans to the tune of Rs.1 lakh crore. Had the “loot” of Rs.1.80 lakh crore gained through 2G spectrum scam been properly utilised it could have bolstered the country's economy. It is deplorable that the Police Department is carrying out the bidding of the ruling dispensation instead of maintaining law and order, she said. Even funds allotted for government schemes were not being properly spent.
If the AIADMK comes to power, cable TV business in the State will be run by the government, Ms. Jayalalithaa told an election meeting near Government Arts College at Tiruvannamalai. If her party came to power, Tiruvannamalai would get a government engineering college. Construction of underground sewerage line, which was progressing at a snail's pace, would be expedited.
“Tiruvannamalai will get a bypass road to facilitate girivalam devotees. A new taluk headquartered in Kalasapakkam will be created and that village will get a 30-bed Primary Health Centre. I know the problems of Kalasapakkam, Kilpennathur and Chengam. Steps will be taken to solve these,” she said.
