AIADMK manifesto promises 'Special State' status for Pondy

Chennai, Mar 28 (UNI) The AIADMK would today promised that it efforts to obtain the status of 'Special State' for the Union Territory if it won the May three and eight Assembly elections.

The election manifesto, released by party supremo J Jayalalithaa here, said a law would be enacted to enable Pondicherry to appoint higher officials, college teachers, doctors, provincial civil service officers and other posts for which recruitment was now done by the Union Public Service Commission.

Though Pondicherry had an elected Legislative Assembly, Lt Governor was vested with all powers as per the Union Territories Act, 1963. This meant that people's representatives such as Chief Minister and ministers had to approach the Governor for even small issues.

The manifesto said if the AIADMK (now in Opposition in Pondicherry) came to power, local body polls, which were not conducted for a long time, would be held as per court directions.

''In the absence of people's representatives, government's developmental schemes have not reached the people properly and in time,'' it added.

Efforts would be made to make Pondicherry an important, clean and beautiful tourist centre.

Among the initiatives for promoting tourism, it said ferry service would be introduced between Chennai and Pondicherry, besides developing historical places like Arikkan Medu, Kizhur as the tourist centres among other things.

The manifesto also assured the functioning of an ''inoperative'' airport and setting up of recreational parks for children at all possible places.

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