Chennai: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President and actor-politician Vijay today released the party’s comprehensive election manifesto, titled ‘People’s Election Manifesto 2026’, at an event held at a star hotel in Nungambakkam, Chennai for the Tamil Nadu Assembly election. The manifesto encompasses various provisions including monthly financial assistance for women, unemployment allowance, free electricity, and ambitious development goals.
TVK Manifesto: 10 key guarantees
Women’s Empowerment: ₹2,500 per month for female heads of households; 6 free LPG cylinders per year; 1 sovereign of gold and a silk saree for brides; a gold ring for every newborn child; educational assistance of ₹15,000 for mothers of students; and interest-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh for women’s self-help groups.
Youth Advancement: A monthly allowance of up to ₹4,000 for unemployed graduates; 5 lakh paid internships; 5 lakh new government job opportunities; loans of up to ₹25 lakh to start new businesses; and a fixed schedule for government recruitment examinations.
World-Class Education: 100 ‘Kamarajar Special Schools’ equipped with residential facilities; higher education loans of up to ₹20 lakh; government schools with modern infrastructure; and free coaching for competitive examinations powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Farmers’ Welfare: An annual investment assistance of ₹15,000 for land-owning farmers; waiver of crop loans; Minimum Support Price set at ₹3,500 per quintal for paddy and ₹4,500 per tonne for sugarcane; provision of 5 lakh solar-powered pumps; annual assistance of ₹10,000 for agricultural laborers; and 100 percent crop insurance coverage.
Healthy Tamil Nadu: Medical insurance coverage of ₹25 lakhs per family; hospitals equipped with modern infrastructure; free annual full-body health check-ups; and a drug-free Tamil Nadu.
Fisherfolk Welfare: Relief assistance of ₹27,000 during the fishing ban period; Minimum Support Price for fish; accident insurance coverage of ₹25 lakhs; and permanent housing for fisherfolk.
Social Security: Monthly pension of ₹3,000 for the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities; 200 units of free electricity; drinking water connections for all households; and land title deeds for those who have long been without them.
Tamil Nadu Development: A $1.5 trillion economy by 2036; a dedicated Ministry for AI, an AI University, and an AI City; support worth ₹15,000 crores for MSMEs, along with district-wise ‘Master Plans’; business licenses issued within 21 days for investors.
Government Employee Welfare: Reconsideration of the Old Pension Scheme; regularization of services for contract employees with five years of tenure; a monthly salary of ₹18,000 for Anganwadi workers and ₹10,000 for health workers, with a retirement benefit of ₹15 lakhs.
Good Governance: All government services delivered to the doorstep, accompanied by a corruption-free administration; time-bound delivery of government services; empowerment of citizens to decide on the allocation of 10 percent of the budgetary funds for various schemes; and one day in the Legislative Assembly dedicated to public grievances.
Five key advantages for Vijay
Political observers have identified five aspects of the manifesto as particularly advantageous for Vijay. First, his focus on “AI Ministry, AI University, and AI City” along with AI-powered free coaching for competitive exams positions him as a tech-friendly leader capable of attracting first-time voters and technology-oriented youth. Second, the ₹2,500 monthly assistance for women surpasses the DMK’s existing ₹1,000 grant, while the promise of one sovereign of gold and a silk saree for brides directly addresses wedding-related financial burdens for middle-class and underprivileged families.
Third, the ₹4,000 monthly stipend for unemployed graduates coupled with 500,000 paid internships offers hope to hundreds of thousands of young job seekers. Fourth, the annual investment assistance of ₹15,000 for land-owning farmers, along with crop loan waivers, is likely to resonate with farming communities in the Delta and Southern districts.
Fifth, the commitment to dedicate one Legislative Assembly day exclusively to public petitions and empowering citizens to determine 10 percent of government schemes embodies principles of “Direct Democracy,” potentially instilling a sense of ownership among those who have suffered under corruption and bureaucratic delays.