Jayalalithaa vows phased prohibition of liquor if re-elected

Jayalalithaa on Saturday kicked off her 2016 Assembly election campaign from Chennai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday promised phased prohibition of liquor in the state and more welfare measures if she was voted back to power.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)  supremo kicked off her 2016 Assembly election campaign from Chennai by listing welfare measures taken up in each constituency. She introduced 21 candidates for Chennai alone at her first public meeting held at the Island Grounds.

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In her speech, telecast in the 21 constituencies by mobile vans, Jayalalithaa stated the AIADMK was voted to power in 2011 because the people wanted an end to the DMK’s family rule and a growth-oriented government. The chief minister said from being deficit in power, Tamil Nadu now has surplus electricity. Since 2011, 74,86.5 Mw has been added to the state grid, she pointed out.

“We successfully kept communicable diseases at bay. That is our major victory during the Chennai floods. Crores of rupees have been spent for the benefit of flood-hit victims in all affected districts,” Jayalalithaa said.

On the DMK’s demand for prohibition, she said, “The DMK cancelled prohibition and he (Karunanidhi) does not have any right to seek it.” Prohibition was introduced in Salem in 1937 and was extended to other parts of the state till 1971 when the DMK government headed by Karunanidhi withdrew it.

“Full prohibition is not possible overnight. It will be implemented in stages,” Jayalalithaa said.