DMK releases 2026 Election manifesto: 525 promises, Rs 2,000 for women, Rs 4,500 paddy MSP, 10 Lakh houses

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Chennai: Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin today released the party’s election manifesto for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections at Anna Arivalayam, outlining a comprehensive set of 525 electoral promises categorized under 50 distinct themes. A 12-member manifesto drafting committee, led by DMK Deputy General Secretary and MP Kanimozhi, undertook an extensive tour across Tamil Nadu to solicit feedback from the public. Based on this input, the committee drafted the manifesto and submitted it to the Chief Minister, who finalized the document.

DMK Manifesto 2026: Key Highlights

The DMK released its election manifesto for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, comprising 525 electoral promises across 50 distinct themes. The key highlights are as follows:

Women and Family Welfare

  1. The monthly financial assistance for women under the Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme will be increased from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000.

  2. Under the ‘Pudhumai Penn’ and ‘Tamil Pudhalvan’ schemes, the monthly financial assistance provided will be ₹2,000.

  3. Members of Women’s Self-Help Groups will be eligible for collateral-free, subsidized loans of up to ₹5 lakhs to start their own businesses.

  4. A scheme will be implemented to assist homemakers in purchasing new household appliances—including televisions, refrigerators, grinders, washing machines, mixers, microwave ovens, and electric stoves—or in replacing appliances they are currently using. Women who do not pay income tax will be provided with a coupon worth ₹8,000 for this purpose.

  5. At the district level, a Transgender Welfare Committee will be constituted under the leadership of the District Collector.

     

Education and Student Welfare

  1. The Breakfast Scheme will be expanded to cover students up to the 8th grade.

  2. Laptops will be provided to 35 lakh students pursuing higher education over the next five years.

Agriculture and Farmers

  1. Farmers will be provided with modern, meter-less pump sets.

  2. The procurement price for paddy will be increased to ₹4,500 per quintal.

  3. The procurement price for sugarcane will be raised to ₹4,500 per ton.

  4. The procurement price for milk will be increased by ₹5 per liter.

  5. Disaster relief compensation per hectare will be increased as follows: ₹25,000 for irrigated crops and paddy; ₹27,000 for long-term crops; and ₹12,000 for rain-fed crops.

Housing and Infrastructure

  1. Ten lakh new houses will be constructed and handed over to beneficiaries.

  2. Modern new cities will be established near Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore, and Salem.

  3. By the year 2030, phased measures will be implemented to grant house site pattas (title deeds) to every eligible Adi Dravidar and Tribal family currently without a house site.

  4. Over the next five years, 10,000 new buses will be introduced.

Employment and Government Vacancies

  1. One and a half lakh vacant government posts will be filled immediately.

  2. To generate 2 lakh new job opportunities, “Neo-TIDEL Parks” will be established in every district by 2030, alongside full-scale technology parks in urban areas where there is a demonstrated need.

Healthcare

  1. Modern cancer treatment facilities will be established in the Government Medical College Hospitals located in the districts of Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Madurai, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Ramanathapuram, Salem, Tiruppur, Villupuram, Tiruvannamalai, and Coimbatore.

  2. The number of dialysis units in government hospitals—ranging from the district level down to the block level—will be doubled.

Temples and Religious Initiatives

  1. Consecration ceremonies (Kumbhabhishekam) will be conducted for 5,000 temples.

  2. One thousand village temples will be renovated.

Pension and Employee Benefits

  1. The “Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme,” announced for government employees and teachers, will be implemented effectively.

  2. Once the Union Government implements the recommendations of the 8th Pay Commission, a committee will be constituted to extend those benefits to State government employees and teachers as well.

IT and Economy

  1. IT sector exports will be increased to ₹5 lakh crore.

Journalists and Media

  1. Welfare schemes currently being implemented by the Government of Tamil Nadu for journalists—such as pension and medical assistance—will be extended to include journalists working in the visual media sector.

  2. The scholarship amount provided to the children of journalists will be doubled.

Parks and Public Spaces

  1. Fifty new ‘Semmozhi Poongas’ (Classical Language Parks) will be established across all Municipal Corporations and major Municipalities.

Sports

  1. Sports hostels equipped with residential facilities will be established across the districts.

Sri Lankan Tamils

  1. The Central Government will be continuously urged to grant Indian citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamils who have been residing in Tamil Nadu for many years.