Chennai— The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday released its manifesto for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, announcing a series of welfare and infrastructure promises, including ₹2,000 monthly assistance for women heads of households and a one-time grant of ₹10,000 for every household.
The party, contesting 27 seats in alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam under the NDA banner, also promised three free LPG cylinders annually on the occasions of Pongal, Tamil Puthandu and Diwali.
Highlighting its cultural agenda, the BJP said it would declare Thaipoosam as a state festival dedicated to Lord Murugan. It also pledged to resume and protect the tradition of lighting the Karthigai Deepam at Thiruparankundram Hill, an issue that previously triggered a political tussle with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
On infrastructure, the party outlined plans to modernise Tamil Nadu’s rail network, including proposals for high-speed rail corridors such as Chennai-Bengaluru and Chennai-Hyderabad, regional rapid transit systems, and new sleeper versions of Vande Bharat trains connecting Chennai with major cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
The manifesto also places strong emphasis on women’s safety, promising measures such as zero-FIR reporting, fast-track courts for serious crimes, victim protection mechanisms, and expanded CCTV coverage in public spaces including buses and educational institutions. It further proposed interest-free loans up to ₹50 lakh for women-led cooperatives, self-help groups and MSMEs, along with a 20 per cent procurement quota for such enterprises.
State BJP President Nainar Nagendran criticised the ruling DMK government, alleging poor governance, rising crime, and unfulfilled promises. He expressed confidence that the NDA alliance would come to power in the state.
The manifesto comes shortly after the AIADMK released its own poll promises, which include similar financial assistance for women, expanded welfare schemes and free benefits for ration card holders, underscoring a competitive electoral landscape ahead of the polls.
