Both the major Dravidian parties are keen on capturing power through freebies and not eager to render justice to people on the development or welfare front, said senior BJP leader and former national president Bangaru Laxman. “The DMK and AIADMK are vying with each other and trying to outwit each other by announcing freebies. They have failed to address the basic problems of the people. Development has been neglected and they are only trying to survive on freebies,” he said.
Releasing the party’s election manifesto here on Saturday, he argued that freebies should not be given importance in a democratic set-up. Mr Laxman quoted former chief election commissioner Tandon, and said promising freebies was an unfair practice and should be stopped. Instead, development should be the focus, he said. Party spokesperson Muralidhar Rao said the manifestos of the DMK and AIADMK were “empty rhetoric.”
“Even before the battle for the ballot commenced, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi conceded his defeat and left Chennai in search of a safer constituency. He has become insecure,” he said, and added that corruption was the biggest challenge confronting the people and his party was fighting it.
The BJP was contesting from 194 constituencies and “we promise an honest and transparent government if the BJP comes to power,” said party state president Pon Radhakrishnan.
The BJP manifesto says it would provide free medical check-up to BPL families once a year if voted to power. On the Mullaiperiyar dam issue, the party would take action to retain the rights of Tamil Nadu and also raise the dam height to 142 feet as allowed by the Supreme Court.