If this poll promise goes through, one or more of the scooter making companies will be in for a bonanza as the TN assembly polls take place. Current CM of the state and AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa has unveiled her party manifesto for the state assembly elections, starting May 16th. The manifesto promises a whole bunch of freebies to the voters, including mobile phones to all 1.9 crore ration car holders in the state.
As an auto publication, however, what interests us is the party’s promise of giving away scooters to working women at a 50% subsidy. The subsidy will apply on the purchase of gearless mopeds as well. This promise subsidy on scooters might well witness a huge jump in scooter customers in the state post the Assembly formation after the polls, if Amma manages to win. This could bring a big upswing in the business for popular scooter makers which are eligible for the scheme.
The list of freebies promised is much longer than just cellphones and scooters though. The manifesto promises 100 units of free electricity to every household, employment for one member of every family and free laptops with internet for class 11 and 12 students. The Manifesto also promises free wi-fi in public places and free internet connections. New schemes including an Amma banking card for poor and a Rs 50-crore Amma Venture Capital fund for first generation entrepreneurs have also been set up.
“I have fulfilled all the promises made in the last election. This time I’ll do more than you can imagine” said Jayalalitha in Perunthurai in Tamil Nadu’s Erode district. Political rivals DMK have announced freebies of their own, in the meantime.
The concept of offering freebies to voters is nothing new for Tamil Nadu. The parties in the state have resorted to spending public money on their election campaigns for ages now. Whether the voters in the state trade the benefits of these freebies in favour of addressing burning issues such as corruption and unemployment is something that remains to be seen.