Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Vijaykanth floats party

Staff Reporter

Calls it Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam

SHOWING THE FLAG: Actor Vijayakanth launching ``Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam in Madurai on Wednesday. — Photo: S. James

MADURAI: Actor Vijaykanth formally launched his political party, the "Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam," in Madurai on Wednesday.

Spelling out the party's ideology at the first political conference attended by over 2 lakh supporters, mostly fans, he said the party would focus on establishing basic amenities such as shelter, electricity and protected drinking water in all villages.

He promised to eliminate corruption in all forms. Five important departments in the State were notorious for corrupt practices, which were not only putting the people to untold hardships but also causing a huge loss to the exchequer. Though corruption could have been eradicated, no Government ever gave a serious thought to it, he said.

If voted to power, the party would pursue a "health for all-wealth for all" policy by ensuring deliverance of quality medical care to the needy. A joint venture with private sectors would be initiated to establish more industries for minimising the unemployment problem.

Reservation for women

Mr. Vijaykanth said the party would implement 33 per cent reservation for women and allocate 33 per cent of the 234 Assembly seats to women in the coming Assembly elections. "We will introduce a scheme where working women (in government services) will get a maximum of six months of paid maternity leave."

The cadres would strive to form a caste-free society by creating awareness among the people to shed differences and join hands cutting across community lines.

"All major political parties have only been exploiting caste organisation/party leaders to strengthen their vote banks."

Mr. Vijaykanth said the party would protect the interests of farmers, weavers and fishermen. Quality education for all would be another area of thrust. "No student should be denied of education for want of money. Though Tamil is our mother tongue, we must not stop the youth from learning other languages which will help them get employment outside the State."

An amicable solution should be arrived at through negotiations with the southern States on sharing river waters. "We need to build a better relationship with neighbours, since linking of rivers had become imperative," he said.

The actor-turned-politician described MGR as his "political guru." He said Janaki Ammal had gifted him with the campaign vehicle used by MGR, which he was using now. Earlier, Mr. Vijaykanth was unanimously elected president of the party. S. Ramu Vasanthan, general secretary, said the Dravidian parties that ruled the State over the years had "betrayed" the people by not fulfilling promises.

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