Freebies to jobs: How the AIADMK and DMK are trying to one up each other

With the Tamil Nadu assembly elections approaching, the state's traditional heavyweights — the incumbent AIADMK and the opposition DMK have released their election manifestos.

The DMK was the first to release the manifesto when it did so on March 13, while the AIADMK released their list of promises on the very next day.

Both manifestos have a lot in common when it comes to their core promises, which prompted DMK chief M K Stalin to term the 75-page-long AIADMK manifesto as a "xerox" of his party's 500-plus pledges.

From home appliances to reservations, here's a look at a roundup of the similarities and differences between the two election promise lists:

Similarities

Reservation - Both parties have proposed to bring in new quotas for jobs, but differ in the nature of their reservation. The AIADMK has proposed to offer a government job to one person in each household that does not already have a member working for the state. The DMK has followed the footsteps of Haryana and a few other states in proposing a whopping 75% reservation of jobs for locals.

Fuel price cuts - In tune with other poll-bound states where the BJP is in power or is part of a ruling alliance, the AIADMK has announced to reduce fuel prices that have been soaring for over a month, but hasn't mentioned by how much it plans to cut rates. The DMK, however, has vowed to slash petrol rates by Rs 5 and diesel by Rs 4.

Home appliances and electronics - The ruling AIADMK has pledged to provide all ration card holders washing machines and solar gas stoves, while the DMK has said that it would distribute tablets and computers with a stable internet connection to students in need of it.

Read | AIADMK promises to cut fuel prices, provide govt jobs in poll manifesto

Kitchen/Cooking subsidies - The AIADMK and DMK have promised voters subsidies on LPG cylinders albeit with different values. While the DMK says it will waive Rs 100 from each gas cylinder bought by a family, their rivals have promised to provide each household (in need of it) six LPG cylinders on a yearly basis. The DMK has also vowed to reduce the price of Aavin packaged milk by Rs 3.

Transport concession for women - The AIADMK has pledged a concession for women travelling in buses owned by the state's transport corporations. The DMK has gone one step above and pledged to make bus travel inside towns and cities free for women.

Differences

The two promise lists, although broadly similar, vary when it comes to finer details.

NEET - Arguably the most notable difference is the DMK's promise of abolishing NEET, however, there is no mention of the nationwide medical entrance test in the AIADMK's manifesto. M K Stalin has said that doing away with NEET would be the first legislation passed by his party if voted to power. It is worth noting that the AIADMK under the late Jayalalithaa was vehemently opposed to the idea of NEET, which makes the absence of NEET in AIADMK's manifesto striking.

Also Read | DMK bets on petrol, diesel price cuts, 75% job quota for locals to win votes in Tamil Nadu

Support to women - The AIADMK has said that it will provide women family heads monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,500. The DMK manifesto takes a different route and aims to increase maternity assistance from Rs 18,000 to Rs 24,000, and also provide sanitary pads to school and college-going girls free of cost.