Tamil Nadu Assembly election 2026: party manifestos

Manifestos play a crucial role in any election; they can even make or break political parties. In the 2006 elections, for instance, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) poll manifesto promised rice at ₹2 per kg, free distribution of colour TV sets, and gas stoves, among others. This ‘hero’ of a manifesto catapulted the party to power, according to political experts.

Cut to 2026, welfare promises continue to dominate the electoral manifestos of political parties contesting the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. While the AIADMK has made slew of promises to women, such as free refrigerators, LPG cylinders, and ₹2,000 monthly assistance, the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) has proposed a major administrative overhaul, including the creation of multiple functional capitals across Tamil Nadu to ease pressure on Chennai and improve access to governance. The ruling DMK, meanwhile, has promised a ₹8,000 coupon to all “non-Income Tax paying” homemakers to buy any electronic home appliance of their choice from the nearest stores.

Parties like the AMMK, MDMK, and TMC(M) have also released their manifestos.