AIADMK, DMK on same page on some economic issues

A cursory glance at the AIADMK and DMK's general election manifestoes shows that the two arch rivals are on the same page on some economic issues.

Both the parties have promised a change in oil pricing formula, scrapping of foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, and hike in exemption limit for individual income tax.

However, one major difference between the two manifestoes is that the AIADMK has promised freebies like fans, mixer grinders, laptops, goats, cows, four gram gold for poor women's marriage and other things nationwide, the DMK's manifesto is silent on the freebies.

The DMK's manifesto was released by its president M. Karunanidhi Tuesday. The party said it would urge the centre to hike the exemption limit for individual income tax to Rs.600,000 in case of men and Rs.720,000 for women. The party also promised to urge the centre to exempt gratuity and provident fund paid to government employees on retirement from tax.

On the other hand, the AIADMK said it would take steps to increase the exemption limit to Rs.500,000 for both men and women.

On the oil pricing policy, the AIADMK has categorically said it would take action to change the mechanism for determining the prices of petrol and diesel. It will also withdraw the power given to oil marketing companies to fix the prices.

The party said the oil and cooking gas prices would be fixed in such a way that it will be uniform throughout the year.

On its part, the DMK said it would urge the centre to change pricing policy to fix just and reasonable prices for petroleum products.

On the FDI in retail, the AIADMK has said it would rescind the current policy. Similarly, the rival DMK, citing the changes made in the FDI in retail policy by the centre, said it would strive for totally prohibiting foreign investment.

The DMK has mentioned in its manifesto that it is now opposed to methane exploration in Thanjavur region.

On the other hand, the AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa said at an election rally that her government has not given environmental clearance to the Great Eastern Energy Corporation to drill gas wells.