Sinlung /
24 March 2011

Want A Free Laptop? Vote For DMK!

DMK expands promise to give laptops to engineering students

Chennai: DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi Wednesday promised free laptops to all the first-year students of government-owned and government-aided professional colleges in the state irrespective of their caste.

DMK expands promise to give laptops to engineering students

He also reduced the eligibility age of senior citizens for free bus passes to 58 years from the earlier promised 60 years.

Kick starting his election campaign from his home town and his constituency Tiruvarur, around 300 km from here, for the April 13 poll, Karunanidhi said: "Acceding to the request of allies and others I have decided to promise free laptops to all the first year students irrespective of their caste."

The 86-year-old chief minister is likely to file his nomination Thursday. Karunanidhi is aiming for the chief minister's post for the sixth time and is in the fray to become a legislator for the 12th time.

The DMK party had earlier promised free laptops to first year students belonging to the backward classes, the most backward classes and Dalits.

With the retirement age fixed at 58 years, he said the free bus pass scheme will be offered to all those citizens who attain that age. The DMK earlier promised free bus passes to those aged 60 years and above.

Referring to the presence of kangaroo courts in the state, Karunanidhi, who also holds the police portfolio, announced that an appropriate law would be passed to put an end to this menace once the DMK is re-elected.

Referring to his decision to contest from Tiruvarur, he said it was to silence those who asked him to prove his strength in his home town.

Citing leaders of alliance parties who said that he would become the chief minister for sixth time, Karunanidhi appealed to the Tiruvarur voters to help him achieve that target.

He said he wanted to contest in the Tiruvarur constituency long back but was not able to do so as it was a reserved seat.

He said the DMK government implemented several schemes that were not mentioned in its 2006 poll manifesto and cited the Kalaignar Housing Scheme - conversion of thatched houses into concrete roof dwelling at an outlay of Rs.75,000.

In the 2011 poll manifesto, the DMK has promised to increase the sum under the housing scheme to Rs.100,000.

Referring to the DMK-led front, Karunanidhi said the alliance was formed to achieve the ideals and goals for which each one of the front constituent strived for.

The DMK contesting in 119 constituencies has sewed up alliances for the remaining 115 seats with the Congress (63), the PMK (30), the KMK (7), the MMK (1), the VCK (10), the IUML (3) and a Nadar outfit (1).

Leaders of all the alliance parties spoke prior to him at the meeting.

Election to the 234-member assembly will be held April 13. The result will be out May 13.

Source: IANS

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