CHENNAI: Fulfilling five major promises made during her election campaign on the she assumed office, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Monday announced shutting down of 500 Tasmac shops and reducing the working hours of the remaining liqour shops in Tamil Nadu. She also waived crop loans of farmers and announced 100 units of free power to consumers.
After being sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu a record sixth time and all set for a fourth term in office, Ms Jayalalithaa drove straight to Fort St George, seat of the state government and assumed office.
She signed five files pertaining to waiving off farm loans, granting 100 units of free power to consumers, increase in allocation of gold for women, increased free power to weavers and reduction in the working hours of Tasmac.
Taking the first step towards her poll promise of implementing staggered prohibition in the state, the CM announced that Tasmac shops would open at 12 noon instead of 10 am beginning Tuesday and that 500 liqour shops across the state would be closed.
The first file that Ms Jayalalithaa signed was the order pertaining to waiver of crop loans taken by farmers up to March 2016 from cooperative banks, which would cost the exchequer Rs 5,780 crore. “The waiver includes crop loan, medium and long term loans of small and micro farmers payable to co-operative banks,” an official statement said.
DMK irked over Stalin’s back seat
In a rare gesture to promote cordiality among political leaders, DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin on Monday attended the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa along with DMK senior leaders.
Party’s principal secretary K. Duraimurugan, senior leaders K. Ponmudi, M. Subramanian, P.K. Sekarbabu and actor and MLA Vaagai Chandrasekar attended the function.
DMK Treasurer M.K. Stalin attends Jayalalithaa’s swearing-in ceremony as CM of Tamil Nadu. (Photo — PTI)
Stalin and other DMK leaders were seated on the tenth row and stayed till the end of the ceremony. Taking exception to seating Stalin on the tenth row, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, said the ruling AIADMK had deliberately insulted the DMK by seating Stalin among the crowd.
Stalin is qualified to sit in the Opposition in the Assembly since the party had won 89 seats, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi said.
