With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections drawing closer, political activity in the state has sharply intensified. Setting the tone for the high-stakes contest, the AIADMK on Saturday formally launched its election campaign by releasing the first phase of its manifesto, signalling a strong focus on welfare, employment, and housing.
The manifesto was unveiled by former Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, who presented the document as a roadmap aimed at easing financial pressure on households and strengthening social security across urban and rural Tamil Nadu.
A central feature of the AIADMK’s poll agenda is direct financial support to families. The party has promised a monthly assistance of ₹2,000 for every ration card–holding household, with the amount to be deposited directly into the bank account of the woman head of the family. The scheme is positioned as a major intervention to support women-led households and address rising living costs.
In a move expected to generate wide public attention, the AIADMK has also announced free travel on city buses for men. The party clarified that the existing free bus travel facility for women would remain unchanged, effectively expanding the scope of subsidised public transport across genders.
Housing has emerged as another major pillar of the party’s election vision. Under the proposed Amma Illam initiative, the government would take responsibility for providing permanent housing to families without homes. In villages, this would involve purchasing land and constructing concrete houses, while in cities, apartment complexes would be built and allotted free of cost to eligible beneficiaries.
Employment generation has also found prominence in the manifesto. The AIADMK pledged to extend guaranteed rural employment to 150 days per year, going beyond the current national benchmark, in a bid to boost rural incomes and reduce migration.
Additionally, the popular Amma Two-Wheeler Scheme is set to be revived and expanded. The party has promised subsidised two-wheelers for five lakh women, offering financial support of ₹25,000 per beneficiary to enhance mobility and employment access.
