Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay presented the party's election manifesto on Thursday, promising key welfare measures including Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women and 8 grams of gold and a silk saree for brides from families earning less than Rs 5 lakh annually, if elected in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections scheduled for April 23.
During the announcement, Vijay emphasised the party’s commitment to “honest administration” and criticised rival parties for making unrealistic promises. He stated, “TVK has adopted honest administration as its ideology. That is why we say that even our party’s first election manifesto is an assurance of honesty. We will not mislead like Stalin. We are not making any hurried manifesto filled with empty promises to the people.” He added, “We had said that DMK and others are all the same, right?… Take the election manifestos released by both sides and compare them. If one or two points were similar, it would still be fine. But do you know what they have done? If one promises Rs 10,000, the other offers a ₹8,000 coupon. If one offers a refrigerator, the other gives a token to buy a refrigerator… In this way, both of them have presented the same election manifesto, merely changing the name and the colour… They are just groups of ideologies under the same umbrella. But we will never deceive people like these two corrupt groups.”
Vijay outlined several welfare initiatives aimed at youth and social security: “To support every college student, a collateral-free loan guarantee of up to Rs 20 lakh for education loans from undergraduate to doctoral studies will be provided. We will provide free competitive exam coaching powered by AI.” He continued, “Every graduate youth registered with employment offices will receive Rs 5,000 per month. An annual provision of 5 lakh internships, with a stipend of Rs 10,000 per month for graduates and Rs 8,000 per month for ITI and diploma holders, will be provided.” He also announced, “An increased pension of Rs 3,000 per month will be provided for senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities.”
The TVK manifesto includes 10 guarantees for a “Victorious Tamil Nadu”, notably Rs 2,500 per month deposited into the accounts of women heads of families (up to age 60), six free LPG cylinders annually for all households, and provision of one sovereign (8 grams) of gold for the wedding thali along with a quality silk saree for brides from low-income families. Additionally, Rs 15,000 per year will be provided to mothers of children attending government or government-aided schools from Classes 1 to 12, and interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh will be offered to women-led self-help groups.
Education commitments include 100 residential Kamarajar special schools, collateral-free higher education loans up to Rs 20 lakh, modernised government schools, and AI-powered free coaching centres for competitive exams. Health guarantees comprise family medical insurance covering up to Rs 25 lakh, new multi-speciality hospitals with modern infrastructure, annual free full-body check-ups, and a pledge for a drug-free Tamil Nadu.
For youth employment, the manifesto promises monthly assistance of up to Rs 4,000 for unemployed graduates, the “Mudhalvar Makkal Sevai Nanbar” stipend-plus-internship scheme supporting 500,000 youth, start-up loans of Rs 5 lakh, business launch loans of Rs 25 lakh, and a fixed timetable for all government recruitment exams.
Farmers are assured a full waiver of crop loans from cooperative societies if they own less than 5 acres, 50% waiver for those with more than 5 acres, annual assistance of Rs 15,000 per landholding farmer, minimum support prices of Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per quintal for sugarcane, distribution of 500,000 solar pumps, Rs 10,000 annual support for farm labourers, and 100% crop insurance.
The manifesto includes specific provisions for fishermen such as Rs 27,000 lean-season relief, subsidised diesel for fishing boats, accident insurance of Rs 25 lakh, permanent housing, and “Meen Vilaiyum Neethi”, billed as India's first statutory minimum support price for fish including sardine, mackerel, prawn and squid.
For state government employees and workers, TVK proposes reviewing restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, regularisation of contract employees with over five years' service, monthly salaries of Rs 18,000 for Anganwadi workers and Rs 10,000 for sanitation workers, and Rs 15 lakh on superannuation.
The party targets a prosperous Tamil Nadu with a Rs 1.5 trillion economy by 2036 and the establishment of India’s first Ministry of Artificial Intelligence, along with an AI University and AI City to position Tamil Nadu as the AI capital of India. It also promises Rs 15,000 crore in MSME support alongside district-wise “Mandala Plans”.
TVK has pledged doorstep delivery of government schemes including ration with a zero exclusion guarantee, legally guaranteed delivery of government services such as community certificates and land pattas within fixed timeframes. The party intends to dedicate one special day in the Assembly to address issues raised by citizens and allocate 10% of district budget expenditure via citizen decisions.
Vijay, who is contesting from the Perambur and Tiruchirappalli East constituencies against DMK incumbents RD Sekar and Inigo S Irudavarai, respectively, launched the manifesto at an event attended by party members and supporters. This electoral debut by the actor-turned-politician may introduce a three-way contest in the elections.
Tamil Nadu's polling will take place in a single phase on April 23, with vote counting scheduled for May 4. The main contest is anticipated between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies.