"An exclusive reservation for the minorities and reservation to non-Hindu scheduled castes and scheduled tribes may actually mean depriving the Hindu dalits and other backward communities of their due benefits," said the manifesto, released by state BJP president C.P. Radhakrishnan.

The main opposition DMK has promised such reservations in educational institutes and government jobs in its manifesto.

The BJP manifesto also said: "Right to worship cannot be construed as the right to convert. Hence, conversions by force, threat or coercion or by other inducements will be declared as a criminal offence and a legislation will be brought forth banning compulsory conversions."

The party also promised to return the control of Hindu places of worship to temple boards.

The BJP manifesto also promised legal status for the manufacture of toddy that is banned in the state. "When the production and sale of India Made Foreign Liquor is allowed, there is no justification in banning the production of toddy," it said.

The party that had allied with the ruling AIADMK as well as DMK in the past has not joined hands with any regional party for the assembly elections.

The BJP will field 139 candidates for the 234-member assembly, while 49 seats will be contested by its allies, the Janata Party and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U).

Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, party president Rajnath Singh, former union minister Jaswant Singh, former party president M. Venkaiah Naidu and some of the BJP chief ministers will campaign in the state, party functionaries said.