Ahead of Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls, AIADMK party manifesto to provide free gas cylinders and student loan waivers

In the run-up to the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam released the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party manifesto on Sunday for the polls.

Released at the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai, some of the major promises made to the people include six cooking gas cylinders per year to each family free of cost, waivers on student loans, free 2G data all year long for college students, one government job per house and dual citizenship for Sri Lankan refugees.

AIADMK manifesto also promises free Arasu cable TV, subsidies for auto drivers under the MGR auto scheme, loan waivers up to Rs 1 lakh for weavers and an extension of maternity leave to one year. As per the manifesto, the midday meal scheme is to be extended to students of Class 9, 10 and 11, Tamil is to be made compulsory in all schools up to 10th standard and all cities in the state will be equipped with Amma patrol vehicles to check crimes against



women and children.

Promises to raise old-age pension from Rs. 1,000 to 2,000 per month, to change Madras High Court’s name to Tamil Nadu High Court and Madurai airport to Pasumpon Airport and to retrieve the disputed island of Katchatheevu have also been made in the AIADMK manifesto.

Additionally, the party stated that they will demand that the Centre drops the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019.

In response to the Opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK) poll manifesto that was released on Saturday, Chief Minister Palaniswami claimed that the Opposition has only repeated the ruling AIADMK’s plans as their promises. He also blamed DMK for the death of J Jayalalithaa, ex-chief minister of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK leader.

“She underwent severe depression due to Stalin and Karunanidhi [DMK leaders],” he said.

The state of Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 6 and the counting of votes will take place on May 2.