AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa on Monday said Tamil Nadu was on the threshold of a new beginning, a new dawn.
“The response from voters from the public has been overwhelming throughout my campaign and the culmination today has filled everyone with hope that Tamil Nadu is on the threshold of a new beginning, a new dawn,” she told reporters outside her Poes Garden residence after completing her campaign.
She alleged that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's family and the Ministers associated with the DMK had indulged in corruption on a scale unprecedented and hitherto unseen anywhere in any part of the world.
“There has been corruption everywhere no doubt in every country. But corruption on this scale, corruption of this magnitude is something new. So the people feel that action should be taken to punish the wrong-doers and the entire political system should be cleaned up,” she said.
Asked about the news that the Election Commission had plans to stop polls in a few constituencies in the wake of irregularities and money distribution, she said, “I am sure the Election Commission may have its own reasons for doing so.”
Pilgrimage assistance
She said that if elected to power, her government would extend assistance to Hindus for pilgrimage to Manasarovar and Saligram.
On the last leg of canvassing votes for the candidates of her party and alliance partners here, she said the State government was already providing assistance to Muslims undertaking pilgrimage to Mecca and she had already announced support for Christians visiting Israel. “Hindus will also get similar assistance to visit Manasarovar in China and Saligram in Nepal.”
Reiterating her allegation the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was resorting to money distribution to influence voters she said, the outcome of the elections could not be changed by the money power of the DMK. “No one can take away the victory from us,” she further said.
Ms. Jayalalithaa also promised to consider the demand of the government employees to revert to the old pension scheme.
Relief to fishermen
The AIADMK leader who covered many fishing hamlets during her campaign gave an assurance to increase to Rs.2000 the monthly relief given to fishermen during the period of ban on fishing during breeding season. At present they are getting Rs.1000 per month. Besides she also promised Rs.4000 per month to all fishermen families during the lean season.
