Amma's election strategy
It is election time again and Amma has been doling out gifts, development schemes, employee bonuses, salary hikes and what not. But are they enough to win? Time will only tell. History is not favourable though. Tamil Nadu, in the past decade and a half, has not had its incumbent Chief Minister retaining his/her position. It has been DMK, AIADMK, DMK, AIADMK alternating from the late 80's till today. There is a nice idea which might get Amma a lot of middle class votes.
You would find the most fleecing of the auto drivers in Tamil Nadu. They really take you for an extra-ride apart from the one you pay for. There are no fixed minimum charges. Charges are ad-hoc and in multiples of 30 normally, unless you are smart enough to bargain or patient enough to wait for a good samaritan. Rationalizing auto-rickshaw rates, basing it upon the fuel costs, would gladden many a heart. The auto-drivers are actually not against it. I've spoken to quite a few of them about this. From their version, it looks like the government is just sitting on this issue, without any action. If Jayalalithaa grabs this opportunity and sets things right, a lot of people win. The auto drivers would benefit from increased passenger traffic. Those waiting for buses, but unwilling to pay astronomical charges for auto-rickshaws, will surely make the switch. Public confidence in auto-rickshaws increases when they pay a metered charge. In this process Jayalalithaa wins a whole bunch of votes.
Is Amma listening, or is it too late for such a move?
You would find the most fleecing of the auto drivers in Tamil Nadu. They really take you for an extra-ride apart from the one you pay for. There are no fixed minimum charges. Charges are ad-hoc and in multiples of 30 normally, unless you are smart enough to bargain or patient enough to wait for a good samaritan. Rationalizing auto-rickshaw rates, basing it upon the fuel costs, would gladden many a heart. The auto-drivers are actually not against it. I've spoken to quite a few of them about this. From their version, it looks like the government is just sitting on this issue, without any action. If Jayalalithaa grabs this opportunity and sets things right, a lot of people win. The auto drivers would benefit from increased passenger traffic. Those waiting for buses, but unwilling to pay astronomical charges for auto-rickshaws, will surely make the switch. Public confidence in auto-rickshaws increases when they pay a metered charge. In this process Jayalalithaa wins a whole bunch of votes.
Is Amma listening, or is it too late for such a move?