The Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Saturday released the first phase of its manifesto for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, promising a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 for women and free bus travel for men, The Hindu Business Line reported.
The elections for the 234-seat Assembly are likely to be held in April or May.
Addressing a press conference, party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami announced five promises under the first phase of the manifesto, The New Indian Express reported.
The first is a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 each under the Kula Vilakku scheme to women-headed families holding ration cards, The Hindu Business Line reported. The party said that the amount will be transferred to the head of the family’s bank account.
The free bus travel scheme, currently available only to women, will be extended to men travelling on city buses, Palaniswami added.
The state government will also purchase land and construct concrete houses for those without homes in rural areas under the Amma Illam Yojana scheme, the party said.
It added that in urban areas, land would be purchased and apartments built and provided free of cost to those who do not own homes.
The manifesto also noted that the Union government had announced that the 100-day employment Scheme would be extended to 125 days. This scheme for the development of rural areas will be enhanced to provide 150 days of employment in the state, it added.
The party further promised two-wheelers to five lakh women with a subsidy of Rs 25,000 each under the Amma Two-Wheeler scheme, The New Indian Express reported.
During the press conference, Palaniswami was asked how a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 to women-headed families would be possible without increasing the burden of debt on the state government.
“They [the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam] were incompetent,” the newspaper quoted the party general secretary as saying. “We demonstrated our capability.”
He noted that the debt burden of the state government was just Rs 5.18 lakh crore when the AIADMK was in power despite the Covid-19 pandemic leading to no revenue earnings.
“However, we handled that situation efficiently,” The New Indian Express quoted him as saying. “But the DMK said an expert committee would be formed to reduce the debt burden of the state, and the revenue would go up.”
However, the debt burden has increased, he added.
Palaniswami also said that further promises would be announced after the party’s manifesto committee completes its meetings across the state, The New Indian Express reported.
Also read: Tamil Nadu 2026 elections: Will the dawn of coalition politics end the era of Dravidian parties?
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