Manifesto Comparison

TN 2026

Side-by-side analysis of all three alliances' welfare promises — tagged by delivery track record (Proven / Plausible / Aspirational).

👩Women

SPA (DMK+)

Rs 2,000/month assistanceProven

Up from Rs 1,000 — 1.31 crore women

Rs 1,000 scheme already running since 2021

Rs 8,000 household couponPlausible

For appliances (non-IT paying families)

New promise, no prior precedent

Free bus travel continuationProven

Existing scheme extended

Already delivered

NDA (AIADMK+)

Free refrigeratorProven

For women heads of rice ration card families (2.22 crore)

AIADMK has delivered TV, mixer, grinder, fan, laptop before

Subsidised two-wheelerPlausible

Rs 25,000/vehicle for 5 lakh working women ('Amma' scheme)

Scale is ambitious; Amma brand lends credibility

Free bus travel for men tooPlausible

Extending existing women's benefit to men

Fiscal strain concern

TVK

Rs 2,500/month assistanceAspirational

For homemakers below 60 years

Highest amount but zero track record — aspirational

8 gm gold for indigent bridesAspirational

Plus quality silk saree

No delivery history; fiscally uncosted

Rs 5 lakh interest-free loanAspirational

For women-run SHGs

SHG credit access is a real need but implementation unclear

Rs 15,000/year for mothersAspirational

Of govt school children to prevent dropouts

Novel scheme, no precedent

🎓Youth & Employment

SPA (DMK+)

50 lakh jobs over 5 yearsPlausible

Via Rs 18 lakh crore investments

Investment target is aspirational; some FDI track record

Rs 1,500/month stipendPlausible

For skill training (5 lakh youth, 6-month course)

Modest and deliverable

Laptops for 35 lakh studentsProven

Over 5 years

Kalaignar laptop scheme is a proven DMK legacy

NDA (AIADMK+)

MGNREGA 150 days/yearPlausible

Up from 100 days

Central scheme — state can only advocate, not unilaterally deliver

Rural employment expansionPlausible

Broader livelihood security

Vague; no specific numbers

TVK

5 lakh government jobsAspirational

New positions to be created

Largest jobs promise; no fiscal roadmap provided

Rs 4,000/month unemployment allowanceAspirational

For unemployed graduates

Highest amount; no precedent in TN; fiscally very heavy

5 lakh stipendiary internshipsAspirational

For youth

Innovative but uncosted

75% jobs for Tamil youthAspirational

In private sector

Legally complex; similar promises made before without delivery

Old Pension SchemePlausible

For government employees

Popular demand; other states have done it

🌾Agriculture

SPA (DMK+)

Paddy MSP Rs 3,500/quintalPlausible

Procurement price increase

DMK has increased MSP before; subject to central policy

Sugarcane Rs 4,500/tonnePlausible

Procurement price

Consistent with past practice

Free electric pump setsPlausible

For 20 lakh farmers (no meters)

Significant fiscal commitment; partially delivered before

NDA (AIADMK+)

Paddy/sugarcane MSP increasePlausible

Aligned with SPA promise

Both parties promising same MSP — competitive parity

3 free LPG cylinders/yearProven

Continuation of existing scheme

Already running under AIADMK; continuation is credible

1 kg dhal + 1 litre oil in rationPlausible

Added to existing rice ration

Tangible and specific; AIADMK has ration delivery track record

TVK

Full loan waiver for < 5 acresAspirational

Cooperative crop loans

Covers ~70% of TN farmers; very large fiscal commitment

50% waiver for > 5 acresAspirational

Partial relief for larger farmers

No costing provided

Paddy MSP Rs 3,500/quintalAspirational

Same as DMK and AIADMK

Same number as rivals — no differentiation, no delivery history

Sugarcane Rs 4,500/tonneAspirational

Same as DMK

Matching promise without track record

🏥Health

SPA (DMK+)

Health insurance Rs 10 lakhProven

Up from Rs 5 lakh; families up to Rs 5L income

Existing CM Health Insurance Scheme — doubling is credible

Breakfast scheme Class 6-8Proven

15 lakh more students added

Breakfast scheme is DMK's most praised delivery

NDA (AIADMK+)

Drug-free Tamil NaduPlausible

Anti-narcotics campaign

Populist promise; AIADMK made similar claims in 2021

Healthcare expansionPlausible

General hospital upgrades

Vague; no specific numbers

TVK

Rs 25 lakh family health insuranceAspirational

2.5x DMK's offer

Highest coverage promise in TN history; no fiscal roadmap

Free annual health checkupsAspirational

For all families

Ambitious; implementation infrastructure unclear

Drug-free Tamil NaduAspirational

Same as AIADMK promise

Matching promise; no specific plan

Modernise hospitalsAspirational

General upgrade promise

Vague

👴Pension & Social Security

SPA (DMK+)

Old Age Pension Rs 2,000/monthProven

Up from Rs 1,200

Existing scheme — increase is credible and deliverable

NDA (AIADMK+)

Social security pension Rs 2,000Proven

For elderly and beneficiaries

AIADMK introduced and ran this scheme; continuation is credible

Rs 10 lakh for Jallikattu familiesPlausible

Cultural recognition

Specific and targeted; AIADMK's cultural credentials are strong

TVK

Rs 3,000/month pensionAspirational

For elderly and differently-abled

Rs 1,000 more than rivals — highest offer but no delivery history

📚Education

SPA (DMK+)

Upgrade government collegesPlausible

Infrastructure improvement

Ongoing work; credible continuation

Rs 1,500 cash for higher educationProven

Up from Rs 1,000 for govt school students

Existing scheme — incremental increase is credible

NDA (AIADMK+)

NEET reservation 7.5% → higherPlausible

For govt school students

7.5% already implemented by DMK; AIADMK claiming credit

Education loan waiverPlausible

For students

Specific and popular; precedent exists

TVK

Education loans up to Rs 20 lakhPlausible

Collateral-free

Reasonable and specific; similar schemes exist nationally

100 Kamarajar residential schoolsAspirational

Named after iconic leader

Aspirational; no costing or timeline

AI Ministry, AI University, AI CityAspirational

Technology governance push

Innovative branding; implementation is a decade-long project

Rs 15,000/year for school mothersAspirational

To prevent dropouts

Novel; no precedent

🏗️Infrastructure & Economy

SPA (DMK+)

10 lakh concrete houses by 2030Plausible

Housing for all

Ambitious but DMK has housing delivery track record

4 global citiesPlausible

Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai, Trichy

Long-term vision; some groundwork already laid

200 units free electricityProven

Existing scheme continuation

Already running

NDA (AIADMK+)

Rs 10,000 one-time family cashPlausible

For all families to manage rising prices

Tangible and specific; AIADMK has cash transfer history

TVK

Rs 1.5 trillion economy by 2036Aspirational

Long-term economic target

Aspirational macro target; no implementation roadmap

200 units free electricityAspirational

Same as DMK

Matching promise; no delivery history

Patta regularisationPlausible

Land rights for encroachers

Popular demand; other parties have done this

100% piped drinking waterAspirational

For all households

Ambitious infrastructure target; no timeline