[GreesyBeeva]

The AIADMK gave a tough time to the DMK in the Assembly as a principal Opposition party often locking horns over the rationale behind the implementation of populist schemes during the last five years of the DMK rule. And with the turnaround in electoral fortunes, the AIADMK which gained upper hand, reversed several of the DMK's pet schemes and projects leaving the latter too dazed to even react vociferously; With only 23 members, the DMK appeared hardly any match in taking on the AIADMK in the House. Its only democratic protest was to boycott the proceedings for the last two days. Interestingly, the DMDK, the principal opposition party with 29 members in the House, had raked up several issues like rampant corruption and flawed economic policies of the DMK with much maturity, though most of them except its founder Vijayakanth and Panruti S.Ramachandram, were all first timers.

In the first Assembly session itself chief minister J.Jayalalithaa not only scrapped the colour TV, housing and insurances schemes but also ensured there is no stamp of the ‘rising sun’ symbol of the DMK in any of the government welfare schemes.

CM’s decision to give away the remaining 1.27 lakh colour TV sets to anganwadi, government schools and GHs has evoked spontaneous greeting from several parties. In fact, the Left party members and also the allies of the AIADMK seemed amused when she announced the decision on Friday.

Party sources believe that she will impress the Prime Minister to sanction additional funds for the welfare schemes during her visit to Delhi on June 14.

DC Chennai