CHENNAI: The People’s Welfare Front (PWF) comprising MDMK, CPI, CPM and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi on Monday formally took the shape of a political alliance — the People’s Welfare Alliance (PWA) — to face the 2016 Assembly elections.
However, the PWF said it would continue to function beyond electoral considerations and raise its voice on all people’s issues even after the elections are over.
“The PWA will not ally with the Congress and BJP who have been responsible for implementing wrong economic policies; PMK, which has been pursuing casteist politics; the DMK and the AIADMK. But those who have similar views can join the PWA,” MDMK general secretary Vaiko told mediapersons here after holding discussions with CPM State secretary G Ramakrishnan, CPI State secretary R Mutharasan and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan at the MDMK headquarters here. All the four leaders unitedly raised the banner for the PWA.
On the occasion, Vaiko also released the Common Minimum Programme for the PWA, which resembled a mini election manifesto and touched upon all issues pertaining to Tamil Nadu as well the country.
Vaiko expressed confidence that the DMDK and TMC (Moopanar) led by G K Vasan would join the PWA in due course.
Vaiko said that Tamil Nadu had seen many alliances forged at the time of elections for the sake of seat allocation. However, for the first time, a political alliance has been formed ahead of the elections with a Common Minimum Programme, he added.
Vaiko further said the CMP was based on a positive approach to all issues that were affecting the people. The decision to float the PWA had been taken by all four parties after many rounds of discussions within their party fora. “It was not a hasty decision. All four parties held threadbare discussions with their functionaries and the decision on PWA was taken unanimously,” Vaiko announced. He said the PWA would stage demonstrations in all district headquarters on November 3 protesting the rise in prices of essential commodities. A massive public meeting would be held at Coimbatore on November 25 to explain the salient features of the Alliance’s CMP.
Expressing confidence that the PWA would come to power, Vaiko said the CMP had a positive take on suggesting the way forward on economic and social issues. Transparent government administration, confiscating the wealth amassed by politicians, enacting the Lokayukta law, ensuring corruption-free administration from village panchayat to Secretariat, prevention of political interference in government administration, devolving more powers and funds to the local bodies, striving to enforce reservation in election of members for Rajya Sabha, introducing courses like medicine, law and engineering in Tamil medium, setting up of a folklore university, demanding 50 per cent allocation of tax revenue to the states from the Centre, measures for the welfare of the Sri Lankan Tamils, enforcing prohibition in Tamil Nadu and providing alternative employment to TASMAC employees, 100 per cent subsidy for organic farming, banning genetically modified crops and repealing the Land Acquisition Act, 1997 are some of the key aspects of the CMP.