PMK moots CMP, shadow govt to monitor likely DMK regime

Chennai, Mar 23: The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), a key ally of the DMK led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA), today mooted the idea of drawing a 'Common Minimum Programme' (CMP) and 'shadow Government' to monitor the performance of the Government, if the alliance wins the May 8 assembly polls.

Releasing the party's election manifesto here, PMK founder leader S Ramadoss said to ensure tranparency in the Government, in the backdrop of the Right to Information Act, the party would provide a ''shadow Government'' to ensure that the new Government performed well.

Like in foreign countries, where parties, which do not participate in the Government, offer valuable suggestions and schemes to the Government, the PMK would also function under a ''shadow Government,'' he said.

He said the party also wished that the DMK, after coming to power, should evolve -- in consultation with all supporting parties -- a common minimum programme (CMP) on the lines of that being pursued by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the centre and implement it.

Making it clear that the PMK would not participate in the Government in the event of DMK failing to secure majority on its own, Dr Ramadoss said the party would offer its unconditional support to DMK, while insisting on a CMP for governance.

Food and shelter for all, more powers to the local bodies, quality education to all, protection of human rights, abolition of liquor, protecting the interests of all sections of the society, urban, rural and Industrial development, social justice, development of infrastructural facilities were some of the 66 promises made in the party's election manifesto, he said.

Dr Ramadoss said the party would focus on providing quality education to all and suggested that 50 per cent of the funds allocated for education should be earmarked for primary education.

He said the party also suggested a constitutional amendment for creating a new list of responsibilities for local bodies, after state, central and concurrent lists. All the 27 itmes, figured in the 73rd amendment should be included in the local body list, he said. The PMK alsodemanded that 25 per of the state's total revenue should be set apart for the local bodies.

Presently, 10 to 18 per cent of the total revenue was earmarked for the local bodies, but in the last five years, during the Jayalalithaa regime, the local bodies were not given funds from the state revenue, he alleged.

Dr Ramadoss said in the election manifesto, the party promised a new approach in the preparation of the state budget and to come out with an Action Taken Report.

The party promised a separate budget for women, complete freedom to the elected members on the floor of the assembly, assured water supply, a protected environment, child and youth welfare and police development.

It also promised to protect the interest of Government employees, police, noon meal workers, construction workers, fishermen, cooperative employees, weavers, sanitary workers, doctors, minorities and backward classes, traders and journalists.

The party suggested creation of new districts for the purpose of effective administration and special schemes for developing backward districts.

The party would support river linkages, strive for good centre state relations, and would continue to fight against privitising public sector undertakings, he said. The party wanted the Centre to declare the Tirukural as National Literature.

UNI