DMK Releases 'Defensive' Manifesto

The DMK on Tuesday released a 100-point manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The DMK on Tuesday released a 100-point manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The document, however, revealed the defensive mindset of the party ahead of the polls where it could see anti-incumbency dent its fortunes. Even before the document outlined the party’s poll plank, it contained a list of schemes implemented by every Union government the DMK has been part of so far, which it claimed brought benefit to Tamil Nadu.

“There have been accusations that there were no schemes or projects that brought benefit to Tamil Nadu in the period that the DMK was part of the Union government. To respond to this, we have listed all the projects and schemes that were brought to Tamil Nadu when the DMK was part of the Centre,” said Karunanidhi, while releasing the party manifesto.

Some of the projects and schemes the DMK claimed credit for were the declaration of Tamil as a classical language, various highways and port development projects, setting up of the National Siddha Medicine Research Centre at Tambaram, Chennai Metro Rail, establishment of an IIM at Tiruchy, introduction of MNREGS, withdrawal of POTA, introduction of 3G telephony, 27 per cent reservations for OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions and projects such as the Port-Maduravoyal Elevated Expressway and the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project.

Among the 100-point agenda outlined in the party manifesto were commitments to press for the adoption of different languages of all State governments as official languages of the Union government, adoption of Tamil as a language of the Madras High Court, creation of a ‘congenial’ atmosphere for the completion of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project and the abolition of capital punishment.

congress to go it alone, hints Vasan

Acknowledging that the Congress is left without allies in Tamil Nadu, Union minister G K Vasan on Tuesday said he would not be contesting the LS elections. He said he would, however, campaign for the party’s candidates in all 39 constituencies.

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