Releasing the manifesto at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi said if voted to power, he will ensure reservation of jobs for Muslims and Christians.

This controversial issue has already drawn flak from the Bharatiya Janata Party, with its president Rajnath Singh announcing in Chennai last week that his party would oppose every attempt at such a reservation in the state.

The DMK's promise of television sets was termed by the ruling AIADMK as a move "to help the Maran (Dayanidhii) family's business".

The reference was to central minister Maran's brother Kalanidhi Maran, who owns the SunTelevision Network with 14 language channels and the MSO Sumangali Cable Vision that sells set top boxes.

The party also promised "two acres of land to every landless farmer", rice at Rs.2 a kg, unemployment allowance of Rs.300 per month, filling up 300,000 vacant government posts and a roll back in bus fares.