Modi plays the employment card to woo voters

Addressing an election rally in Erode town, known for its textiles and turmeric, around 400 km from Chennai, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said: "The economy would be reoriented with job creation at the centre."

He said that after agriculture, it was the textile sector that can provide a large number of jobs and it should be developed with the right kind of infrastructure.

Stating that the BJP in its manifesto has promised development of the handloom sector, Modi, also the Gujarat chief minister, accued the central government of following an economic policy that took away jobs from the youths while investors set up units in China and other countries.

He said the general election was special as people would vote a government that works and also for a decisive and accountable prime minister who has a voice of his own within the government.

Modi, who was on a two-day tour of Tamil Nadu from Wednesday, spoke about the power shortage in the state and said that in Gujarat, load-shedding was a thing of the past.

Modi said a woman minister - a Rajya Sabha member of the Congress from Tamil Nadu - was responsible for delaying several infrastructure projects in the country.

The nation was told that the projects were held up for green reasons.

Infrastructure projects were stalled and "Jayantiji tax" was levied on the pretext of environment, he said, referring to former union minister Jayanthi Natarajan.

Wooing first-time voters and the youths in the age group of 18-28, the BJP leader asked them not to waste five years of their lives by not voting for candidates of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

He said the NDA will not only change the face of the country but also that of Tamil Nadu.

Later addressing a rally in Kanyakumari, Modi said the district could be developed into a major tourist destination.

He said laying of double railway line to Kanyakumari by the central government would have brought large number of tourists.

Criticising the two Dravidian parties - AIADMK and DMK - Modi said till the state is freed from these two parties, the interests of the people would not be served.

Urging the people to take a decision on that during the assembly polls, he said the current election is for the Lok Sabha and there should be a friendly government at the centre.