AIADMK short on poll promises

A year has gone by in the post-Jayalalithaa regime, but the AIADMK government, which rode back to power on its fat list of poll promises, has delivered very little, while struggling to keep the existing schemes afloat. The exceptions are a few schemes that late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had launched, soon after her swearing-in for the second consecutive term. 

Vice President Venkaiah Naidu’s recent remarks calling on the ruling dispensation to deliver all promises made by the deceased AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa had raised several eyebrows among the politicos, kickstarting a mild digression to take stock of the party’s poll manifesto. 

None of the freebies such as Co-optex coupons, and free mobile phones to all family card holders has materialised. However, free mixer grinders, table fans, and other welfare measures for the poor, including Amma canteen, Amma water, and gold for marriage scheme, executed by this government in its previous term, made it a popular welfare state, and set the bar higher in the consecutive term. Jayalalithaa, who reeled off the poll manifesto, died last year after about only six months into the term. But the government that she formed with the huge mandate continues to administer the state, and is expected to deliver on her promises. The ruling party claims that the government is on track to deliver. 

While the recent Cabinet nod for implementation of the 7th Pay Commission is one of the many promises, the rival politicians and activists are of the opinion that the state’s claim to fulfil their poll promises would be a lie. “The state’s debts are as such it would join the club of states such as Punjab which could not remit salaries to government employees. At this rate, Tamil Nadu would figure in that club by January, considering the financial mismanagement. It would never be able to carry out any welfare measure,” said Siva Ilango, president, Satta Panchayat Iyakkam (SPI).  “As much as 67 per cent of the revenue goes out to the salary account and pension account. The total debt is hovering around Rs 4 lakh crore. The fiscal deficit – GSDP ratio would go up to 3.34 per cent, while it should be maintained under 3 per cent under Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003 (FRBM Act). It would be highly improbable for the government to take up the welfare measures of the existing social welfare schemes and infra projects; forget poll promises,” Ilango observed. 

With regard to the possible revenue to be mopped up from increasing the liquor price, the activist said that closure of bars attached to retail TASMAC liquor shops, and road to total prohibition, are among others in the list of poll promises, made by the AIADMK. 

According to the recent budget, the total revenue receipts (TRR) in the budget estimates for 2017 - 2018 stood at Rs 1,59,363 crore, while the revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 1,75,292 crore, leaving a revenue deficit at Rs 15,930 crore. The net outstanding debt at the end of March 31, 2018 will be Rs.3,14,366 crore. 

A former legislator and CITU state president A Soundararajan, concurred on the views of the state’s economy on back strides and that the poll promises would only remain on paper. However, he did not find fault with the implementation of 7th Pay Commission for the government employees and teachers as it was part of the state’s obligation. “It had not even completed all the promises made under Rule 110 of the Assembly. How do we expect them to deliver the poll promises?” he asked, and added, “The state had allowed the Transport Corporations to spend money collected from its employees to keep the buses plying. The Corporations owe Rs 7,000 crore for its employees alone, while the total outstanding is around Rs 17,000 crore”, he said.

The trade unionist also maintained that the promises were only to lure the voters and to fight the then anti-incumbency wave, which eventually helped the AIADMK ride back to power in 2016. 

When asked about the financial crisis, senior minister D Jayakumar said that all appropriate measures would be taken to strengthen the state’s financial position. “We will do what we can do to improve the situation and implement the schemes, without affecting the people. We promised that we would deliver. We will stick to it. The people had reposed their faith by electing us. We will fulfil every promise made,” he added. “They (Opposition) ridiculed us as to how we would carry forward the existing schemes. 

We have been continuing the existing schemes such as laptop distribution, and thalikku thangam (free gold for women during marriage),” Jayakumar said, when asked why much headway was not being made in the populist schemes.