Releasing BJP manifesto, former party national President Bangaru Laxman said the ruling Dravidian parties through the years had failed to address developmental issues and only focussed on garnering more votes by announcing “freebies”.

Terming the freebies announced by DMK and AIADMK as an “empty rhetoric”, he criticised the Dravidian parties for having failed to address the price rise issue. “If BJP comes into power, it will focus on the development of state,” he said.

Detailing some of the highlights of the manifesto, party Tamil Nadu unit President Pon Radhakrishnan said on the Cauvery river water issue with Karnataka, the party would try to get 205 TMC water annually for Tamil Nadu to help the delta farmers.