CHENNAI: Rice has again become an important issue in the political agenda of the State with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) promising to provide "quality rice" at Rs.2 a kg if it comes to power.

It was in the run-up to the 1967 Assembly elections that the DMK, then yet to taste power, assured the electorate that it would supply three measures of rice (approximately 4.5 kg) at one rupee.

Acute shortage

The State was then in the grip of acute shortage of rice. Though certain quarters expressed scepticism the promise caught the imagination of people. The DMK came to power, dislodging the Congress.

The party implemented a modified form of its promise by providing a measure of rice at Re.1 on an experimental basis in a few places. It did not last long.

While releasing his party's manifesto early this week, DMK president M.Karunanidhi, said the Rs.2-a-kg scheme would cover all family ration card holders.

Trading charges

A major consumer, the State has always witnessed intense political debates on issues concerning rice. At least twice in the last five years, major parties had traded allegations.

In September 2002, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government decided that the first 10 kilograms would be given at Rs.3.50 per kg to card holders (except those coming under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana families) and the balance quantity to which they were entitled would be supplied at Rs.6 per kg.

The intention was to reduce the rice subsidy bill, but the move attracted strong political opposition and, a year later, the Government abandoned it. (Now, the State bears an annual subsidy of Rs. 1,200 crore).

In January this year, when the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre sought to hike the issue price of rice for the Above Poverty Line category and reduce the allotment for all categories, all parties in the State opposed it. The Centre was forced to suspend the move.

However, the practice of using rice as a political tool is not confined to this State.

Andhra model

As noted by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bandaru Dattatreya, the Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh, before the 1983 and 1994 Assembly elections, promised to provide rice at Rs.2 a kg.

This helped it to capture power on both occasions but the scheme was implemented only briefly.

The Congress, which was in power on the both occasions at the time of the polls, did not lag behind the TDP. In December 1982, it even implemented the scheme in a hurry. Twelve years later, the party promised that it would provide 10 kg of rice free a month to families sending two children to school. The then Prime Minister P.V.Narasimha Rao, while campaigning for his party, argued then that the Congress offer was better, as it addressed the issue of illiteracy too.

But the voters were unimpressed on both occasions. The Congress was defeated in 1983 and 1994.

The mid-1990s saw the then Janata Dal Government in Karnataka announcing a plan to sell rice at Rs. 3.20 a kg, the late Biju Patnaik promising to emulate the TDP scheme in Orissa and the Shiv Sena's assuring subsidised rice in Maharashtra.

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