TAMIL NADU, (India): The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday (April 14) rolled out its manifesto for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, pitching a mix of welfare schemes, big-ticket infrastructure plans and cultural promises.
The party has pledged a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 to women heads of households and a one-time payment of Rs 10,000 to every family.
The announcement comes as the BJP contests the elections in alliance with the AIADMK under the National Democratic Alliance, fielding candidates on 27 seats. The manifesto signals a coordinated welfare push within the alliance, with both parties promising similar financial support schemes aimed at women voters.
Welfare promises and festival-linked benefits
Among key announcements, the BJP said it would provide three LPG cylinders free of cost annually, to be distributed during Pongal, Tamil Puthandu and Deepavali. The party has also outlined a series of measures focused on women’s safety and economic participation.
These include streamlining zero-FIR registration; setting up special fast-track courts for serious crimes, including sexual offences; ensuring CCTV coverage in buses and educational institutions; and better use of the Nirbhaya Fund. The manifesto also promises interest-free loans of up to Rs 50 lakh for women-led manufacturing units and a 20 per cent quota in government procurement for such enterprises.
Highlighting its cultural agenda, the BJP said it would declare Thaipoosam as a state festival in honour of Lord Murugan. It also pledged to restore and safeguard the tradition of lighting the Karthigai Deepam at the Thiruparankundram hilltop.
The issue had triggered a political row earlier after Justice Swaminathan directed that the ceremonial lamp be lit at the Deepa Thoon atop the hill. The ruling DMK government had denied permission, leading to a confrontation with the BJP and subsequent legal and political escalation, including contempt petitions and discussions in Parliament last year.
Rail, connectivity projects in focus
The manifesto places strong emphasis on infrastructure, particularly rail connectivity. The BJP has proposed facilitating land acquisition at fair prices to support projects such as high-speed rail corridors linking Chennai with Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Other proposals include the Coimbatore-Tiruppur-Salem RRTS, Villupuram-Chennai semi-urban rail network, a hydro power train project, and new sleeper Vande Bharat services connecting Chennai with Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
BJP targets DMK over governance
Launching a sharp attack on the ruling DMK, BJP state president Nainar Nagendran said, “I wish everyone a Happy Tamil New Year on behalf of the BJP. In Tamil Nadu, a fascist, anti-people, and family rule is going on. With various strategies to defeat the DMK in the upcoming elections, the mega alliance led by the NDA will form the government after the elections. The DMK has not properly fulfilled even a single promise. The deteriorating law and order situation and the increasing crimes against women are examples of their rule. The AIADMK has already released its manifesto, and now we have released ours. The NDA will definitely form the government.”
AIADMK manifesto echoes welfare push
The BJP’s promises align closely with those made earlier by its ally AIADMK, which has also assured Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to women heads of households. The AIADMK has additionally promised free lentils with rice for ration card holders, distribution of refrigerators, extension of free bus travel to men, and three free LPG cylinders annually. - The Statesman/ANN
