Expect more mega announcements, says AIADMK

According to informed AIADMK sources, the party leaders and the state ministers are now involved in the public feedback for CM’s Pongal announcement.

“The initial feedback for CM announced Pongal gifts are encouraging and the CM is continuing the Pongal scheme launched by former CM Jayalalithaa. The government is giving the tax money back to the public during Pongal,” Kadambur Raju said.

According to secretariat sources, the state is awaiting central government funds under various heads.

The state has submitted a disaster relief fund to a tune of Rs 3600 crores and this includes about Rs 600 crores for relief and compensations to the cyclone-affected families. The state is expecting at least 500 to 600 crores through the disaster relief and key sanctions for the local administration and civic bodies for which the funding has been suspended by the centre for the past two years, sources said. However, more popular schemes are on cards and the Chief Minister is keen on announcing populist schemes in next few weeks, official sources said.

“The state’s financial resource is a hindrance for announcing new freebie schemes, but the administrators are trying the best to keep the voters happy ahead of the May elections. The party had also advised the district secretaries and the aspiring candidates to organise temple festivals, sponsor cultural events and lavishly spend for the jallikattu events,” said an AIADMK insider.

The party will also be funding poor children, donate free autos for the party men so that the campaign mood picks up, the source added.

The key members of the AIADMK IT wing had also been briefed to strengthen their campaign against Udayanidhi Stalin and other political heirs of DMK leaders.

“This election there will be a serious campaign against DMK that promotes family politics and nepotism,” an aspiring AIADMK MLA candidate told DT Next.