Decoding The Vision of DMK’s Manifesto

On Wednesday, DMK released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While releasing the MK Stalin stated, “When the BJP came to power in 2014, they completely destroyed India. None of their election promise was fulfilled. It’s not good to continue Modi as PM. We have formed an INDIA alliance.”

He continued to say, “We have an explainer of what we will do when we come to power. It’s a 64-page election manifesto. Special schemes for TN and schemes for every district are given in this manifesto.”

Controversial Promises..

Coming to the manifesto, it virtually sounds like the manifesto of the INDIA Alliance for many of the promises made can only be delivered by the central government. Here’s the list of DMK’s promises –

• It promised that once it forms government, it will restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and will ensure that elections take place.
• They will repeal CAA and
• UCC will not be implemented
• One nation one election will be removed
• No NEET and NEP in the state. Education and healthcare will be moved from concurrent list to state list
• Thirukural to be made a national book
• Article 356, deals with president’s rule, which can be imposed on any state in case of failure of constitutional machinery will be abolished.
• Article 361 of the Indian constitution which provides immunity from criminal proceedings to Governors will be removed. Thereby, ensuring that the governors are subject to legal actions.
• It further said that till the office of the Governor is abolished. The governor of the state will be appointed on the basis of recommendation of the Chief Minister of the state.
• Constraints on State’s borrowing capacity, imposed by the Union government will be removed.
• Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka will be given Citizenship
• It promises to cut petrol and diesel prices.
• They promise to bring back separate budget for Railways
• Setting up of Supreme Court bench in Chennai
• Statehood to Puducherry
• Elimination of Toll Plazas on National Highways
• Educational Loans to be waived off across the country
• Central Institutes like IIT’s and IISc would be set up in Tamil Nadu.
• The Sachar Committee recommendations will be implemented, and a caste census will be conducted across the country.

All In All,

The DMK’s manifesto seems to be a manifesto of the INDIA alliance itself. For majority of its promises can only be fulfilled if it forms government at the center. Then DMK through its promises like removal of Article 356, CAA, UCC, NEET and NEP seems to be have conveyed a message that it doesn’t believe in federal structure. Some of these declarations have been made without taking into account their financial implications and it can potentially strain the treasury.

Overall the manifesto seems to be giving a push to it’s Dravidian politics.

Recently, DMK MP Kanimozhi said that, “To make our Dravidian model all over India this election manifesto will help. I am sure we will win not only 40 seats in Tamil Nadu bit our alliance will win at the center as well.”