Progressive measures of the State government will continue only if the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is voted back to power, DMK president and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Friday.
Mr. Karunanidhi, who campaigned in Villivakkam constituency for DMK general secretary and Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan, referred to the words of appreciation expressed a few days ago by Congress president Sonia Gandhi for the State government.
Praising Mr. Anbazhagan for the way he handled finances, the DMK president said it was because of Mr. Anbazhagan's deft handling of the finance portfolio that the State government was able to implement schemes such as rice at Re.1 a kg.
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He called upon DMK members to work hard in the next few days.
Mr. Karunanidhi also campaigned in Kolathur constituency from where his son and DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin is contesting.
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Special Correspondent writes from Tindivanam:
Mr. Karunanidhi has promises to provide separate quota for the Vanniyar community within the Most Backward Classes list and also to enhance the percentage of reservation for the Muslim community, if returned to power.
He was addressing an election rally here on Friday, canvassing support for the Pattali Makkal candidates R.Ganesh Kumar (Ginjee Assembly constituency), R.Prakash (Mayilam) and M.P.Sankar (Tindivanam).
Responding to the plea made by PMK founder S.Ramadoss that the Vanniyars constituted a majority in the MBC list, consisting a total of 108 communities, could be given a separate quota, Mr Karunanidhi said that it was not a shocking demand as he expected.
He said reservation issue was a common one between them and he was never in the habit of turning down the request of Dr Ramadoss.