While Roti, kapada aur makhan (food, clothing and shelter) has been a key slogan of the national parties, in Tamil Nadu it is rice that has been used as a political tool for years.
In the run-up to the 1967 Assembly election, when the State was in the grip of an acute rice shortage, the DMK, then yet to taste power, assured the voters that it would supply three measures of rice (approximately 4.5 kg) at one rupee. The promise evoked scepticism in certain quarters, but struck a chord with the voters. No wonder, the DMK won hands down, ousting the Congress, which could not return to power so far.
