Most prominent aspects of the manifesto released by Kamal Haasan, chief of Makkal Neethi Maiam (MNM) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and state assembly by-polls are equal pay for women and clean drinking water.
Though, it was made clear by Mr. Haasan that he would not be contesting the elections, he released his party's second list of candidates on the same occasion. The list includes Rangarajan, a former IAS officer contesting from South Chennai; lyricist Snehan from Sivaganga; and Mookambigai from Pollachi.
He claimed that all candidates are my faces. I am proud to be the chariot puller rather than the chariot itself. Mr. Haasan taunted DMK chief MK Stalin at the rally, wondering why his party was "so scared of actors".
The promises in the MNM manifesto are doorstep delivery of ration items; equal pay for women; employment reservation for women; free WiFi; abolition of highway toll; creation of 50 lakh jobs; upliftment of 60 lakh below poverty level families; free or subsidised housing; appointment of Lok Ayuktas; and minimum support price to ensure at least 100% profit for farmers.
He also promised a system where governors could be elected by legislators and said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a rich man's guard who stops poor people from entering."
Apart from party members, the fledgling party has also given seats to the general public in recognition of their contributions in the fields of social work, academics and human rights.
It will be interesting to know that Tamil Nadu will witness a four-cornered contest, with alliances led by the DMK, AIADMK, AMMK and MNM facing off against each other. Many independent candidates are also in the queue.
