DMK President MK Stalin with Kanimozhi Karunanidhi,Head, DMK’s 2026 Assembly Election manifesto at the release of the manifesto in Chennai
| Photo Credit:
Bijoy Ghosh
A key promise, keeping in line its welfare support route, is a unique scheme that gives women monetary support to help them pick anything they would need to buy for their house.
Under the new ‘Illathu Arasi’ scheme, ₹8000 worth coupons will be provided to women specifically towards buying a washing machine, grinder, TV, microwave, etc, and other such household items. “All women who don’t pay tax will get it. They can buy it from their neighbourhood shop,” the CM said as he announced the manifesto in an event here on Sunday.
Speaking to mediapersons subsequently, the CM said the number of estimated women beneficiaries under this new scheme could be around 2 crore.
“Tamil Nadu is a leading state under the Dravidian model of governance, with several welfare schemes benefiting the public. DMK will form the government for the seventh time with continued public support. No other State has implemented welfare schemes as successfully as us,” the CM said in his speech.
Women continued to be at the centre of the manifesto with the monthly entitlement scheme -Kalaignar Magalir Urumai Thogai- that currently benefits over 1.31 crore women with ₹1,000, promised to be doubled to ₹2,000 if the party comes to power. SImilarly, pension increased to ₹2,000 month for senior citizens, widows and spinsters above the age of 50
Breakfast scheme
In education, the Chief Minister’s breakfast scheme will be expanded up to Class 8, benefiting around 15 lakh students. Financial assistance for college students under the “Pudhumai Penn” and “Tamil Pudhalvan” schemes will be increased from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 per month.
On the industrial development front, the DMK promised to bring in foreign investment of ₹18 lakh crore with 50 lakh jobs to be created over 5 years. It also promised 35 Lakh free laptops to all college students. Free modern electric pump sets for 20 lakh farmers without any meters, 10 lakh new concrete houses under Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam and a ₹10,000 Cr allocation for rural roads, are among other key promises in the manifesto.
“Four future-ready global cities will come up around Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai, and Trichy; 50 Semmozhi Poonga’s will be constructed across Tamil Nadu,” the CM said.
Published on March 29, 2026