Chennai: After bringing up the possibility of a coalition government in Tamil Nadu recently, DMK President M Karunanidhi now feels such a necessity will not arise and there will be no hung assembly.
Claiming a huge pro-DMK wave in the state, he said Jayalalithaa can implement her promise of doling out four grams of gold free for marriages of girls in poor families as Leader of the Opposition.
"I do not expect that there will be any need for a coalition ministry in the state as there will not be any hung assembly," the 82-year-old DMK patriarch said.
Last week in Tiruchirapalli, he had spoken of the possibility of a coalition government, which if it happens, would be a first for the state.
The unprecedented crowds for his public meetings during the three rounds of electioneering indicated that there was a 'pro-DMK' wave sweeping across the state.
"People want to say good-bye to the autocratic AIADMK government and open the doors of democracy," he said.
"I have not seen such unprecedented crowds during my six decades in public life. All sections of people want a change of government. I feel that the Democratic Progressive Alliance is certain to win the polls," the four-time Chief Minister said.
He said the wave had encompassed the entire Democratic Progressive Alliance.
On AIADMK's promise of four grams of gold for mangalsutras of girls from Below the Poverty Line families, Karunanidhi said that during his earlier tenure as Chief Minister, he had announced a scheme of Rs 10,000 as cash assistance for the marriage of poor girls who had studied upto the 10th standard.
"My scheme helped over two lakh girls. But Jayalalithaa stopped the scheme soon after she came to power," he said.
The DMK has now promised a marriage assistance scheme of Rs 15,000 after the party returns to power.
"We do not oppose the gold scheme announced by her. When we are the ruling party, we will give cash assistance. As the leader of the opposition, let her give gold. This will help to reduce the political differences in the state," he said.
Asked what were the differences between the NDA and UPA governments, (since DMK is a constituent in both) he said the NDA government did not implement many schemes like the Sethu Samuthram Project, it did not declare Tamil a classical languag or establish an integrated steel plant and a new railway division at Salem.
"The UPA government on the other hand has accepted all our demands," he said.
Expressing satisfaction over the performance of the UPA government, he said it should be credited with several achievments, particularly in sacntioning schemes to Tamil Nadu.
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