Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, March 15 (IANS) Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) Tuesday made fresh promises in its election manifesto which include 2.5 million new jobs, rice at Rs.two per kg and hiking of social pensions to a minimum of Rs.1,000.

Kerala goes to the polls April 13 to elect 140 legislators. In the past nearly four decades, a ruling government has never returned to power in the state.

LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan handed a copy of the manifesto to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan at the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state headquarters here.

Viswan said they were going with a new manifesto after successfully implementing most of the promises that were made ahead of the 2006 polls.

“This time our main emphasis would be programmes on development, welfare, social justice, law and order. We will also see that all homes have electricity and water,” Viswan said.

Other major programmes in the manifesto include the Rs.40,000 crore road development programmes, Rs.7,500 crore projects for women, free food, uniform, text books for school children, increasing the welfare pension from Rs.400 to Rs.1,000 and a 10 percent reservation for the economically-backward in the forward communities.

The LDF promises to set up a new corporation solely for the diaspora from Kerala besides increasing the age of entry for people who want to take part in the pension scheme.

“We also plan to double the IT exports from the state. New bio-technology parks would be set up,” Viswan said.

“Malayalam would be made a compulsory subject. Local TV channels will be promoted and also new centres of excellence would be developed to promote fresh talent,” he added.