AIADMK Unveils Sweeping Welfare Promises Ahead of Assembly Polls, Pledges Cash Aid, Subsidies and Loan Waivers

Chennai, Feb 2026 : The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Monday rolled out an expansive package of welfare promises ahead of the forthcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, signalling a strong bid to reclaim power in the state. Party General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced direct cash transfers, enhanced subsidies, social security benefits and multiple loan waivers, positioning the AIADMK as a party focused on immediate economic relief for households.

Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Royapettah, Palaniswami said that if the AIADMK is voted back to power, every family in Tamil Nadu would receive a one-time relief assistance of ₹10,000. He described the proposal as a measure to help families cope with rising living costs and economic stress.

In addition to the lump-sum relief, the party promised ₹1,000 annually for every family along with the traditional Pongal gift hamper during the Thai Pongal festival, reinforcing the AIADMK’s long-standing emphasis on cultural traditions combined with welfare support.

Taking a sharp dig at the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government led by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, Palaniswami alleged that the prices of essential commodities had “soared like poison,” placing unbearable pressure on household budgets. He further accused the state government of burdening citizens through hikes in property tax, house tax and water charges, claiming that these decisions had disproportionately affected middle- and lower-income families.

Among the key employment-related assurances, the AIADMK promised monthly financial assistance of ₹2,000 to unemployed graduates registered with employment exchanges, while those who have completed Class 12 would receive ₹1,000 per month. Fishermen were also assured enhanced support, with the fishing ban relief set to increase from ₹8,000 to ₹12,000.

The party placed special emphasis on the handloom and powerloom sectors. It pledged to raise free electricity limits for handloom weavers from 300 to 450 units and for powerloom weavers from 1,000 to 1,400 units, a move aimed at reducing production costs and supporting traditional livelihoods.

In a significant relief for small traders, the AIADMK announced that loans taken from cooperative banks by pavement shop owners in urban areas would be waived. Under the proposed ‘Kulavilakku’ scheme, ₹2,000 per month would be directly credited to the bank accounts of family heads to provide steady income support and ensure economic stability.

Transport and housing also featured prominently in the party’s manifesto outline. The AIADMK promised free bus travel for men in city buses, while continuing the existing free bus travel scheme for women. On the housing front, it pledged to construct homes for the rural homeless under the ‘Amma Illam’ scheme and develop apartment projects in urban centres.

Further promises included raising old-age pensions to ₹2,000, waiving educational loans, providing three free LPG cylinders annually, and extending compensation to victims of Jallikattu-related incidents. The party also announced interest-free loans for minority women entrepreneurs and loan waivers for persons with disabilities as part of its second phase of election assurances.

With these wide-ranging commitments, the AIADMK has signalled an aggressive welfare-driven campaign, seeking to contrast its promises with the incumbent government’s record and reconnect with key voter groups across Tamil Nadu.