AIADMK Unveils Promises for Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026
AIADMK's Election Manifesto Highlights
On Saturday, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) introduced the initial phase of its manifesto for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, pledging a monthly financial aid of Rs 2,000 for women and complimentary bus rides for men, according to reports from a local media outlet.
The elections for the 234-member Assembly are anticipated to take place in April or May.
During a press briefing, party leader Edappadi K Palaniswami outlined five key commitments included in the first phase of the manifesto, as reported by another local media source.
The first promise involves a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 for women-led households that possess ration cards, which will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of the family heads.
Additionally, the free bus travel initiative, which is currently exclusive to women, will be expanded to include men using city buses, Palaniswami stated.
The state government plans to acquire land and build concrete homes for those lacking shelter in rural regions under the Amma Illam Yojana scheme, as per the party's announcement.
In urban settings, the plan includes purchasing land to construct apartments that will be provided at no cost to individuals without homes.
The manifesto also highlighted that the Union government has decided to extend the 100-day employment scheme to 125 days, with the aim of enhancing rural development by offering 150 days of employment within the state.
Furthermore, the party has committed to providing two-wheelers to five lakh women, with each receiving a subsidy of Rs 25,000 under the Amma Two-Wheeler scheme, according to reports.
சட்டமன்றப் பொதுத் தேர்தல் - 2026
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When questioned about the feasibility of providing a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 to women-led households without increasing the state's debt, Palaniswami responded by criticizing the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) for its incompetence, asserting that the AIADMK had previously managed the state's finances effectively.
He pointed out that the state's debt was Rs 5.18 lakh crore during the AIADMK's governance, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We navigated that situation successfully,” he stated, adding that the DMK had promised to form an expert committee to alleviate the debt burden, which has since increased.
Palaniswami also indicated that additional promises would be revealed following the completion of the party's manifesto committee meetings throughout the state.