Lots of promises: Edappadi K. Palaniswami releases the AIADMK assembly election manifesto along with other leaders at the party headquarters in Chennai on Tuesday (March 24, 2026). | Photo credit: PTI
After releasing the AIADMK manifesto for the 2026 Assembly elections, party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday (March 24, 2026) announced the provision of free one kg pulses and one liter cooking oil to ration card holders under the Public Distribution System (PDS) along with free rice.
Free fridges
Highlights of the manifesto include distribution of free refrigerators to women from PDS, revision of electricity tariff for common facilities in multi-storey flats and increase in horizontal reservation for government school students entering medical courses from 7.5% to 10.5%. It contained 297 assurances. Mr. Palaniswami told reporters at the party headquarters that if his party wins power, the government will do everything possible to expand resources to fund all social programmes. “Just as we in government handled the funding shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic, we will do the same this time.” On agriculture, the party assured voters of measures to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy at ₹3,500 per quintal (now ₹2,545 and ₹2,500 for A-grade and regular varieties) and a fair and remunerative price of ₹4,500 at ₹0.500 per tonne Small and marginal farmers would receive an annual production subsidy of up to ₹15,000 per hectare. A scheme would be created for the families of missing fishermen and those who died at sea, which envisages an accident insurance of ₹25,000.
The manifesto made it clear that “there is no change” in the party’s stance against clauses in the National Education Policy that harm the bilingual formula, “provisions of the policy that were not harmful can be accepted”.
Amma Clinics
Other assurances given by the AIADMK included the revival of nearly 2,000 Amma clinics; conversion of all city buses to electric vehicles; and a subsidy of ₹30,000 per 1 kilowatt (KW) and ₹60,000 per 2kW of rooftop solar panels installed in homes.
The party said it would urge the Union government to allow night flights and set up cargo facilities at Thoothukudi airport, besides restoring 50% concession on railway fares for senior citizens and journalists. On the sensitive issue of reintroduction of the old pension scheme for the AIADMK government employees, he said that the Contributory Pension Scheme and the Provident Pension Scheme of Tamil Nadu would be reviewed. The income cap on journalists’ pensions would be lifted, it said. The Union Government will be urged to grant “dual citizenship” to Sri Lankan refugees living in rehabilitation camps, she added.
On the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the party said it would urge the Center to include pump sets in the list of agricultural machinery equipment to reduce the tax rate from 18% to 5%. The same downward revision would be recommended for recycled plastic waste and products made from it and for the raw materials needed to produce eco-friendly paper bags, he said. Likewise, the works of micro, small and medium enterprises should have a GST rate of only 5%, he said.
The party expressed its commitment to “rapidly transform the state” into a one trillion dollar economy.
Asked why he chose Mylapore to launch his election campaign, Mr. Palaniswami said the reason was “proximity”. If he was in Salem, he would have done it from there, he added.
‘Talks are ongoing’
When asked about concluding talks with other allies, the AIADMK leader said that talks are underway and will be finalized in a few days. He said the alliance between the PMK faction led by party founder S Ramadoss and the All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam led by VK Sasikala would have no impact on the NDA’s prospects.
Published – 24 March 2026 22:33 IST
