The Tamil Nadu Toddy Movement, which has been demanding the lifting of ban on toddy in the state for more than ten years now, today wanted to know the official stand of the AIADMK and the DMK on the brew.

While the government’s official position on toddy remains unclear, the farmers say that it is good for the health.

The stands of both the parties assume special significance following the AIADMK’s announcement that it will implement total prohibition in the state in a phased manner, and the DMK’s campaign promise to ban liquor in Tamil Nadu.

The DMK had been talking about lifting the ban on toddy for a while, but their stand continues to be very ambiguous. The party chief did not clarify about it in the manifesto that was released yesterday.

The toddy movement’s secretary, S. Nallasamy said that they had even offered a reward of Rs.10 crores to the political parties if they could prove that toddy was an intoxicating drink. “No parties, which initially supported the movement, have come forward so far,” he said.

The association has decided to sell toddy in Trichy on April 16. A detailed manifesto will be released on April 14 in Namakkal to create awareness on the importance of voting, he said.