Free PCs, says ADMK

Over the past week, there have been rumours that ADMK was going to announce a brahma astra during the very last leg of the campaign. On this, the penultimate day of campaigning, the ruling party has announced a free personal computer to anyone who passes the Standard 12 exams in the state this year.

Both the alliances have reached a stage where the economics of their promises are better not argued upon. I do not know the exact number of students who sat for the exams. Let's say that number is 4 lakhs. Assuming a 70% passing rate, we are looking at about 3 lakh computers, each costing 10000 rupees. That's 300+ crores, this year alone!

An old Tamil saying reads: mullai mullaal thaan edukkanum, i.e. a thorn in the flesh can be removed only by another thorn. Wonder what Amma might say if she unable to fulfil this promise: "I promised PC. But PC (the FinMin) says no money. So, no PC!"