The announcement came as a surprise, giving the principal opposition a strategic lead despite the party still finalizing seat-sharing arrangements with the BJP in the NDA alliance.
The manifesto release coincided with the 109th birth anniversary of party founder M.G. Ramachandran (MGR). Palaniswami garlanded MGR’s statue at the party office in Chennai and distributed sweets and welfare measures to party cadres.
Key Phase-1 Promises
Rs 2,000 per month for women household heads
Under the Amma Kulavilakku Scheme, Rs 2,000 will be deposited directly into the bank accounts of women household heads in ration-card holding families. This is aimed at promoting women’s welfare, economic equality, and household security, similar to the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (KMUT) program of the DMK, which deposits Rs 1,000 per month.
Free bus travel for men and women
The AIADMK promised to extend free city bus travel to men, while continuing the existing free travel scheme for women, ensuring affordable and accessible public transport for all sections of society.
Housing for all — Amma Illam Scheme
Under the Amma Illam Scheme, the AIADMK will construct free concrete houses for the houseless in rural areas and provide apartments in urban areas for the homeless. Special attention will be given to Scheduled Caste and denotified communities, providing independent concrete houses when sons establish households after marriage.
Enhanced rural employment
The party pledged to increase the number of working days under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme from 125 to 150, exceeding the 125 days announced by the Central Government, strengthening rural livelihoods and income security.
Amma Two-Wheeler Scheme
Five lakh women will be provided two-wheelers with a subsidy of Rs 25,000 each, enhancing women’s mobility and economic participation.
Other Highlights
EPS emphasized that these Phase-1 promises reflect AIADMK’s legacy of people-first governance, focusing on empowering women, strengthening livelihoods, ensuring housing for all, and restoring dignity to labour.
He also clarified that the free bus travel scheme for women, introduced by the DMK government, will continue under an AIADMK administration. Palaniswami assured that further phases of the manifesto would address critical sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, youth employment, and industrial growth, presenting a comprehensive vision for Tamil Nadu based on good governance, protection of the vulnerable, and real outcomes rather than slogans.