Jaya promises liquor-free state, if voted back to power

The ruling AIADMK on Saturday said if the party is voted back to power, it would make the state liquor free in a phased manner.

AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who kick-started her poll campaign here, said it is not possible to prohibit liquor in the state at one go. “It can be done step by step”, she added.

She said if her party comes back to power, her government would reduce the timing of liquor shop’s sale. “The number of liquor outlets will also be reduced and rehabilitation centres will be opened”, Jayalalithaa said.

Charging the DMK president M Karunanidhi for lifting prohibition in 1971 and introducing liquor to a generation that did not know about the drink, Jayalalithaa said: “He (Karunanidhi) does not have rights to speak about liquor prohibition”.

Jayalalithaa, who also introduced her party’s 21 candidates standing for election in the Assembly constituencies in Chennai and its suburbs, said liquor bars will also be closed.

The AIADMK chief also claimed that almost all her promises, which were given in the 2011 election manifesto, were fulfilled. Of the total 234, the AIADMK is contesting in 227 seats for the May 16 Assembly elections. The rest was given to her party’s small allies, which will contest under AIADMK’s “two leaves” symbol.