CHENNAI: With just over two weeks for elections, the campaign in the State is slowly but surely moving into top gear. Monday is the last day for withdrawal of nominations and once the final list of candidates in each constituency is released, the clock starts ticking. But, in a campaign that has so far not witnessed any wave, not many serious issues have been raised by the rival camps. Till now it has turned out to be a referendum on the performance of the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) Government and the poll promises of the Democratic Progressive Alliance led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The `hero'

This is, perhaps, what prompted Union Finance Minister P.Chidambaram to describe the DMK manifesto as the ``hero'' of this election, hinting clearly that the focus of attention now rests squarely on the DMK's promises to the people. The most important of these are, of course, the ration rice for Rs.2 a kg, free colour television for eligible households (about 54 lakhs) and two acres of free land for the landless. Add to it the latest promise of free power to weavers, in addition to the farmers. That is what the elections may be all about.

To counter this offensive, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa came up with the 10 kg free rice scheme through the Public Distribution System. This may seem more attractive and the people also have the choice of getting the other 10 kg at Rs.3.50 a kg if they want. Is that all, or will Ms. Jayalalithaa come up with anything more remains to be seen. But the rice war certainly points to the close finish on the cards.

What are the real issues, one may ask. Economists and political analysts say food, shelter and clothing remain the three basic or fundamental needs of the people. As such the food subsidy issue does warrant a close look by the leaders. Housing schemes for the poor have been on offer by both fronts, though they have not come into focus this time, except in the tsunami-hit areas, where permanent housing is a major issue. What the DMK has done is to also address the core issue of ``entertainment without cost'' — offering a free colour television. Naturally, this has caught the imagination of the poor.

The corresponding issue the industry wants to raise is infrastructure and industrial development. If so much of the State's finances are locked in subsidies, what happens to capital works? Only in the past two years has the State been able to step up its capital outlay, thanks to buoyant finances. Will it be a reversal again?

Other key issues social scientists and academics want to bring to the centre stage are health and education. With Tamil Nadu already doing well in these sectors, they want the political parties to look at ``affordable, specialist services'' in district and rural/ primary health centres as well as hospitals. And only the Government can do that.

Similarly, there has been so much confusion and uncertainty in the education sector over the past two or three years, especially in higher education. Academics want the next Government to evolve a political consensus on the way forward so that there are no drastic changes in the admission and examination systems — students need some medium and long term policies on these issues and not an annual review or tinkering with the process.

But it may only the new generation of voters who will think of these issues. The existing, fatigued voter may be taken in more by the promises and freebies.

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