Chennai, March 19 The NTK released its manifesto for the April 23 Assembly elections on Thursday, with promises, including the creation of five capital cities in Tamil Nadu, and welfare measures to boost sectors like infrastructure and education.
Speaking at the manifesto's release here, Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator Seeman ruled out freebies, stating that they only lead to poverty and other related issues in the state.
The manifesto runs to over 400 pages and contains several promises.
According to the manifesto, five capitals will be created in Tamil Nadu, with Chennai as the technological capital, Coimbatore as the industrial hub, Madurai as the cultural capital, Kanyakumari as the capital of philosophy, and the State Secretariat will be moved to Tiruchirappalli.
Seeman said the idea behind the five capital cities is to ensure balanced growth across the state.
He also listed welfare measures for various sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
"What we have released today is our vision. We are committed to achieving it. Now it is in your hands (in the form of the manifesto)," he told reporters.
"We will gradually move forward. We will only make progress in our initiative. We will not go back on our promises. We want to provide quality education and quality healthcare," he said.
Seeman also promised that education, healthcare, and drinking water would be free for people if his party wins the Assembly elections.
On freebies, NTK chief said, "Stalin (DMK chief) says free buses for women, while AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami offers free buses for men. (TVK Chief) Vijay says he will give Rs 2,500 for women. If this trend continues, the state's economy will be affected as there will be no source of revenue," he said.
Questioning the practice of distributing gold to women at the time of marriage announced by political parties, he said, "Instead of giving gold, I will give a job to the groom, making him capable of buying gold on his own. I will make him self-sufficient instead of making him dependent on others."
The Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Memorial Marriage Assistance Scheme, popularly known as 'Thalikku Thangam Thittam' (Gold for Marriage Scheme), was introduced during the AIADMK regime.