TVK manifesto packs cash doles, loan waivers ahead of TN polls

Vijay unveiled TVK’s manifesto promising cash transfers, loan waivers, free services and welfare schemes ahead of Tamil Nadu polls, despite criticising “freebie politics”, positioning the party competitively against Dravidian rivals with extensive voter-focused benefits.

Chennai: With a slew of populist promises, direct cash transfers, free goods and services, and waivers ahead of the April 23 Assembly polls, one of Tamil Nadu’s newly formed political parties, TVK, too joined the deep-rooted political culture of “freebies” in the state.

Incidentally, while announcing the maiden manifesto of TVK, party founder and actor Vijay took a direct swipe at his political rivals for trying to woo voters with freebies, accusing them of merely copying each other.

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“Take a look at the election manifestos released by both of them. If one or two points were somewhat similar, it would be fine. But do you know what they have done? If one gives Rs 10,000, the other gives a coupon for Rs 8,000. If one gives a fridge, the other gives a token to buy a fridge… Like this, both of them have given the exact same election manifesto, just changing the name and changing the colour,” Vijay said.

However, immediately afterwards, the actor-turned-politician outdid the traditional heavyweights by guaranteeing a higher monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 for women under the age of 60. The state’s Dravidian majors, on the other hand, have promised a monthly cash dole of Rs 2,000 to women.
To sweeten the deal, the TVK chief threw in six free gas cylinders a year as well. For brides from indigent backgrounds, Vijay promised eight grams of gold and a quality silk saree.

Wooing the agrarian vote bank, the actor-turned-politician also assured a 100 per cent waiver of agricultural cooperative crop loans for farmers owning less than five acres, and a 50 per cent waiver for those with landholdings above five acres. Farmers are also promised 100 per cent crop insurance and five lakh free solar pump sets.

Among the financial aid promised is Rs 15,000 yearly assistance to the mothers or guardians of children studying in government or state-aided schools (Class 1 to 12) to prevent dropouts. Unemployed graduates registered at the employment exchange will get Rs 4,000 per month and unemployed youth who have completed 12th standard, ITI, or Diploma will get Rs 2,500 per month. Vijay also promised Rs 3,000 per month as pension for the elderly, widows, and differently-abled.

Direct cash transfers will also include Rs 27,000 as fishing ban period relief and lean season assistance for every fisherman family. Fishing families, incidentally, are also promised pucca houses. Tenant farmers and agricultural labourers are promised Rs 10,000 direct cash transfers per year.
TVK has also extended the free electricity units by 100 — Tamil Nadu already offers 100 units of free electricity monthly to every family.

Other “free” benefits include Rs 25 lakh universal health insurance for every family, covering cancer, organ transplants, and heart surgeries as well as free annual health check-ups and free medicines.
For the youth, it is free residential schools — Vijay promises to build 100 Kamarajar Schools of Excellence, catering to students of classes VI to XII. They are also promised free competitive exam coaching, “powered by AI”.

The TVK’s manifesto was officially unveiled as a book at a closed-door event here. Vijay presented the first copy to a farmer. The manifesto was also ceremonially handed over to representatives of various societal sections, including an auto driver, a teacher and a transgender person.