On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister and President of the DMK, MK Stalin, articulated a vision for governance should the INDIA bloc secure victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Among the key pledges, CM Stalin emphasized the commitment to conduct a caste census every five years if his coalition attained power.
Moreover, CM Stalin reiterated the promise of implementing 33 percent reservation for women in both the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Addressing concerns of federal autonomy, he advocated for amending the Constitution to incorporate recommendations from expert committees, aiming to grant greater autonomy to states.
Furthermore, the DMK leader advocated for a collaborative approach in the appointment of governors, stressing the importance of consulting with state chief ministers. Proposals also included the abolition of Article 356, pertaining to President's Rule, and the removal of Article 361 safeguarding the President and governors.
The manifesto outlined a comprehensive agenda, encompassing various domains. It advocated for the establishment of a branch of the Supreme Court in Chennai, statehood for Puducherry, and the reduction of prices for essential commodities such as LPG, petrol, and diesel.
CM Stalin underscored commitments towards specific communities, promising to implement recommendations from the Sachar Committee to uplift Muslims' livelihoods and advocating for the repeal of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Additionally, the manifesto addressed regional concerns, such as exemption from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in Tamil Nadu and the removal of toll booths on national highways. It also proposed measures like the prevention of the Uniform Civil Code's implementation and a monthly entitlement of Rs 1,000 for women nationwide.
In a bid to promote linguistic diversity, the manifesto advocated for conducting Union government job exams in Tamil and other official languages. It also championed the declaration of Tamil as the official language in the Madras High Court and as a co-official language in Union government offices.
CM Stalin asserted that the manifesto encapsulated the aspirations of Tamil Nadu's populace, affirming the DMK's commitment to fulfill its electoral promises. He criticized the ruling BJP, accusing it of failing to deliver on its commitments and urged voters to support the INDIA bloc led by the DMK for a change in governance.
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