Chennai, April 16, 2026:** Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on Thursday unveiled his party's election manifesto for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, scheduled for April 23, promising a slew of welfare measures focused on women, farmers, and basic services.
The manifesto, released just a week before voting, includes 8 grams of gold and a quality silk saree as marriage assistance for women from economically weaker backgrounds, alongside ₹2,500 monthly financial aid for women below 60 years of age. It also pledges six free LPG (cooking gas) cylinders per family annually under the 'Annapoorani Super Six Scheme'.
Additional women-centric promises include interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh for women-run self-help groups (SHGs), ₹15,000 annual assistance to mothers or guardians to prevent school dropouts under the 'Kamarajar Kalvi Uruthi Scheme', free bus travel for women in government buses ('Vetri Payanam Scheme'), and free sanitary napkins. A separate department for women's welfare and a gold ring with a baby welcome kit for newborns were also announced.
# Focus on Farmers and Agriculture
For the agrarian sector, TVK promised a full waiver of agricultural cooperative crop loans for farmers owning less than five acres of land, and a 50% waiver for those with more than five acres. The manifesto also sets a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹3,500 per quintal for paddy and ₹4,500 per tonne for sugarcane.
Other farmer-friendly measures include free modern electric pump sets and commitments to address rural distress.
# Power and Other Key Promises
The party assured 200 units of free electricity (power) to households. Broader pledges cover:
- ₹3,000 monthly pension for the elderly and differently-abled.
- ₹25 lakh health insurance cover per family, along with modern hospitals, annual free health check-ups, and a push toward a drug-free Tamil Nadu with anti-drug protection zones.
- Interest-free education loans up to ₹20 lakh, unemployment aid for youth (₹4,000 per month for graduates above 29), and plans for an AI Ministry, AI University, and AI City.
- Transparent governance initiatives, including a Right to Service Act and a 'Vetri Tamil Nadu' super app for citizen services.
TVK leaders described the manifesto not as "freebies" but as a "share of prosperity" generated from the state's resources, emphasizing accountable governance and surplus distribution to citizens.
Vijay, who launched TVK in 2024, positioned the document as a vision for a "Vettri Tamil Nadu" (Victorious Tamil Nadu), targeting key voter groups including women, farmers, youth, and the poor amid a competitive electoral landscape involving the ruling DMK, AIADMK-BJP alliance, and others.
The release comes as Tamil Nadu gears up for a high-stakes assembly election, with welfare schemes and populist promises taking center stage across party manifestos. Critics may view the announcements as ambitious given fiscal implications, while supporters hail them as people-centric and transformative.
TVK is contesting all 234 seats independently, banking on Vijay's massive fan following and anti-incumbency sentiments to make a strong debut.
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