Ten Major Takeaways From DMK Manifesto (image-screen grab/instagram/mkstalin)

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Wednesday unveiled the party manifesto for the Lok Sabha election. The manifesto was released in the presence of state chief minister MK Stalin, DMK MP Kanimozhi, and other party leaders. The party has also unveiled its candidate list for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.

The party which has been part of the INDIA alliance has listed a set of promises which includes lowering the prices of LPG and bringing down petrol and diesel prices. The manifesto has also promised to ensure that the number of seats that Tamil Nadu has will not decrease in the delimitation exercise. 

Here are some of the promises listed in the manifesto:

• DMK has promised to exempt the state from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examinations.
• M K Stalin has reiterated that CAA and the Uniform Civil Code will not be implemented.
• The New Education Policy will be abolished. 
• The caste census and census concerning the people below the poverty line will be conducted simultaneously, once in every five years by the Union government. 
• The Agnipath scheme will be withdrawn. Permanent recruitment service for Indian Armed Forces personnel will be reintroduced. 
• The recommendation of the MS Swaminathan committee will be adopted, ensuring that agricultural products MSP is set at a total production cost more than 50%.
• Exemption from the Goods and Service Tax (GST) will be provided for essentials such as rice, oil, pulses, wheat, and cereal types.
• DMK has promised to remove Article 361 of the Constitution which protects Governors of state against criminal proceedings during their time in office. 
• Tamil will be declared as the co-official language in Union government offices in Tamil Nadu, ensuring that all Union government offices, institutions, and nationalized banks in Tamil Nadu operate in Tamil as well, with relevant amendments to Section 343 of the Indian Constitution to be introduced by the new government. 
• To protect the farmers in the delta region and also to ensure water supply to various parts of Tamil Nadu, the construction of the Mekedatu Dam will be halted.