Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate for Coimbatore P.R.Natarajan on Monday released his manifesto in the presence of leaders from the Secular Progressive Alliance in Sowripalayam.
A release from the CPI(M) said that he handed over the copies of the manifesto to entrepreneurs Pandian, Moorthy and Jothi Basu, who were affected by the introduction of GST, and a few traders who were affected by demonetisation. DMK former Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy, Singanallur MLA N. Karthik, former CPI(M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan and leaders from Congress, MDMK, CPI, VCK and a few other organisations were present.
The release said that Mr. Natarajan assured the voters of taking steps to annul the contract the Coimbatore Corporation had signed with a multinational company for distributing water in the city. The candidate also assured the voters of striving to bring changes to GST in such a way that ‘job order’ industries enjoyed exemption from GST and manufactured goods enjoyed a lower slab rate.
The manifesto also spoke about simplifying procedures for getting insurance cover for workers, an integrated jewellery design centre and technology assistance centre for jewellery manufacturers and changes in law to facilitate government agencies to buy pumps and motors from small and medium enterprises in Coimbatore.
The candidate promised to establish a National Investment Manufacturing Zone in Coimbatore, set up coconut-based industries and a coconut research centre and voice his support for loan waiver for power loom units. Mr Natarajan’s other promises included a technical university and management institute in Coimbatore, a cricket and football stadium of international standards, resettlement of Dalits and improvements to road infrastructure.