Tamil Nadu polls: Prohibition, coalition govt, Lokayukta keys in PWF manifesto

Chennai:  The MDMK-led four party People’s Welfare Front on Thursday released its election manifesto, promising prohibition, a coalition government and setting up Lok Ayukta. In sync with the demand for dry law, PWF promised prohibition and enumerated ways and means to compensate the revenue loss that would arise out of implementing it. It also promised a coalition government, “for the first time” in Tamil Nadu. The four party bloc, which is fighting the 16 May polls in association with DMDK and G K Vasan-led TMC, also assured setting up of a Lok Auykta to end corruption and ensure good governance.

Among the manifesto’s highlights are promise of two acres of land to beneficiaries, including landless farmers and poor people. The land would be provided from surplus and barren government lands, it said. PWF assured that the Cauvery Delta region would be declared a protected farm zone and projects that would hurt the interests of farmers like the methane and shale gas would not be permitted. For labourers, it promised a minimum wage of Rs 18,000. PWF also promised that Sri Lankan Tamils living in Tamil Nadu would not be repatriated without their consent. It promised a procurement price of Rs 4,000 per tonne for sugarcane farmers. MDMK general secretary Vaiko, State Secretaries of CPI(M) and CPI, G Ramakrishnan and R Mutharasan respectively and chief of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi Thol Thirumavalavan together released the manifesto.