Lok Sabha polls: DMK targets ruling AIADMK on power issue in Tamil Nadu
DMK said power shortage has affected powerlooms and farm sectors badly
Madurai: With rival parties stepping up campaign for the April 27 Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu, the opposition has targeted the ruling AIAMDK on the power outage issue even as Chief Minister Jayalalithaa assured voters that the problem would be solved by June.
Opposition parties have taken the AIADMK to task for what they called its "failure" to honour its promise to resolve the power crisis within six months after coming to power.
DMK leader, M K Stalin, while electioneering never fails to raise the issue asking voters if the Chief Minister has kept her promise of resolving the problem within six months of her party assuming power.
At meetings, he says power shortage has affected powerlooms and farm sectors badly. Small units were facing an uphill task of meeting their contract obligations.
DMDK leader Vijayakanth and his wife Premalathaa have also attacked the government on the issue and asked the people to vote for NDA candidates to resolve the problem.
AIADMK cadres, in many parts, have incurred the wrath of voters who vented their anger on power outages, saying the ruling party had not learnt the lesson from failure of the previous DMK government on power front.
Jayalalithaa, refuting the opposition charges, has said they were overblowing the outages that prevailed for a day or two due to some snag in some units, and assured voters the problems would be solved by June.
"I am closely monitoring the power situation daily. There is no need to worry about power problem. There will be no power cut in Tamil Nadu after June," she has said.
Officials in the electricity board are optimistic about resolving the problem.
"Power situation is definitely much better managed now...," an official in the rank of Chief Engineer claimed.
With the southern grid linking work expected to be completed by May, in all probability the state would have enough power for peak summer, officials said.
Opposition parties have also seized on law and order and water scarcity issues during campaigning, slamming government for "increasing" numbers of crimes.