Jayalalithaa fulfils pre-poll promise, shuts down 500 TASMAC shops

Beginning her second term as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief J. Jayalalithaa today announced a list of government schemes in keeping with her campaign promises.

Getting back to work after being sworn-in today, the Chief Minister immediately ordered five schemes to be implemented.

As per her poll promise, she announced 750 units for power loom weavers and free 100 units of power for every home.

Waiver of all crop loans for farmers till March 31, 2016, totalling up to Rs 5,780 crore and women from poor households to receive eight grams of gold for mangalsutra and Rs. 50,000 in cash was also announced.

Free breakfast will be provided to the students in government schools, as part of her scheme.

But what is set to cause the most impact is her call for the shutdown of 500 Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) shops and reducing the time of the shops to be opened.

The liquor shops are to be open from 12 noon to 10 pm, as earlier they were open from 10 am to 10 pm.

This is for the first time since the death of former chief minister M.G. Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, that a party returned to power for the second consecutive term in Tamil Nadu.

Earlier on May 21, 68-year-old Jayalalithaa met Governor K. Rosaiah and staked claim to form the government in the state.

The AIADMK retained power winning 136 of the 232 constituencies despite most exit polls predicting a DMK win.

This will be Jayalalithaa's fourth term in office. Her earlier tenures as the Chief Minister were 1991-96, 2001-06 and 2011-16.