Tamil actor-turned-politician Vijay appears to have struck a chord with voters, with early counting trends showing his fledgling party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leading in 105 of Tamil Nadu’s 234 assembly seats.
The remarkable early performance suggests a potential political earthquake in the state, threatening to disrupt the decades-long dominance of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
At the centre of TVK’s rise is a manifesto packed with ambitious welfare promises targeting women, farmers, students and unemployed youth.
Big-ticket promises for women
Among TVK’s headline commitments:
- ₹2,500 monthly allowance for women heads of families up to age 60
- Six free LPG cylinders annually
- Dedicated women’s security department
- Special women’s courts
The party also promised symbolic welfare measures including:
- A gold coin and silk saree for every bride
- A gold ring for newborns
- ₹15,000 annual support for mothers or guardians of school-going girls up to Class 12 to reduce dropouts
Women’s self-help groups were promised financial assistance of up to ₹5 lakh.
Focus on youth and jobs
TVK’s manifesto places strong emphasis on employment and education.
It promises:
- ₹10,000 monthly unemployment allowance for graduates in skill training
- ₹8,000 for ITI diploma holders
- Collateral-free education loans up to ₹20 lakh for students from Class 12 to PhD
The party also pledged to create 500,000 village-level jobs through a “CM People Service Associate” programme, with each recruit earning ₹18,000 per month.
To boost local hiring, TVK proposed incentives for firms employing 75 percent local workers, including GST subsidies and electricity rebates.
Major relief for farmers
The manifesto devotes significant attention to agriculture.
TVK has promised:
- Complete waiver of cooperative crop loans for farmers owning up to five acres
- 50 percent waiver for those with larger holdings
- Guaranteed minimum support prices of:
- ₹3,500 per quintal for paddy
- ₹4,500 per quintal for sugarcane
Tenant cultivators and farm labourers would receive ₹10,000 support through a proposed cultivator rights card.
Governance reforms and AI ministry
Among its more unusual proposals is the creation of a dedicated artificial intelligence ministry, signalling a focus on technology-driven governance.
TVK has also proposed:
- A Citizen Privilege Card to access welfare schemes
- A Right to Service Act mandating timely delivery of public services
- Direct citizen petitions to the state assembly, with mandatory government responses for submissions backed by 10,000 signatures
Pension and police reforms
The party pledged to consider restoring the Old Pension Scheme, a long-standing demand among state employees.
It also promised regularisation of temporary government staff after five years of service.
For police personnel, TVK has proposed:
- Raising entry-level basic pay from ₹18,000 to ₹25,000
- A ₹1,000 monthly high-stress allowance
Vijay pitches ‘honest governance’
Launching the 95-page manifesto in April, Vijay said it was inspired by the principles of the classical Tamil text Thirukkural — aram (virtue), porul (wealth) and inbam (joy).
“TVK has adopted honest administration as its ideology,” he said.
“We will not mislead people with empty promises.”
If early trends hold, Tamil Nadu may be witnessing one of its biggest political realignments in decades.
Comments are closed.