Chennai: In a marked shift from Tamil identity politics, DMK has made development and good governance as its major poll plank with promises of bringing more industries and generating jobs in both private and government sector.
There was an initial slackening after its failure to bring actor Vijayakanth’s DMDK into DMK fold. But, the party came out with its manifesto stressing on development and good administration, besides waiver of crop loans and educational loans.
Party treasurer M.K. Stalin began a whirlwind tour of the state and picked up from where he left, explaining the party’s agenda for the next five years with stress on economic growth and jobs.
Allegations of failure of AIADMK government to bring more industries is repeated in every campaign venue by Stalin, who disputes the ruling party’s claims they had brought investments by conducting the Global Investors Meet in Chennai. He lists the industries brought to Tamil Nadu during DMK government in 2006-2011.
He asks AIADMK leaders to name the companies brought by the party in the last five years. All DMK leaders are harping on the theme of stagnation of Industrial growth.
Not stopping with allegations, Stalin is promising to allow new industries through single window clearance. The party has also promised to fill three lakh vacancies in government and provide two lakh jobs in the granite and sand quarrying industry.
The DMK is also promising to improve governance with transparency and accountability. Officials who do not discharge their duties and fail to deliver government services to people within the specified time would be punished, Stalin said in one of the meetings. His party MLAs too would not be spared if they fail to meet people and solve their grievances.
The Dravidian party is promising to enact a law to make prompt and timely government service as a right of the citizen. Karunanidhi, who started his campaign in the last week of April, stressed on giving a good administration and industrial growth. Prohibition too takes a major part of his speeches with promises of closing Tasmac shops immediately after coming to power. He also highlights the promises of waiver of educational and agricultural loans, reduction of milk price and lesser electricity charges for households.
Only towards the end of the campaign, he evoked the Tamil chord and said “I am a Tamil. I am a Dravidian.” But, he did not elaborate on this and did not take up any issue connected to Tamil nationalist politics. A victory for DMK would embolden the party to stick to the growth agenda, but a second consecutive defeat in Assembly elections may lead to a re-think on the abandoned Tamil identity politics.
