(l-r) senior Tamil Nadu BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan; State BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran, Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda and former BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai at the launch of the BJP manifesto for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. | Photo Credit: Bijoy Ghosh

Ahead of the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday released its manifesto, promising a mix of welfare measures and development initiatives, including ₹2,000 monthly assistance for women heads of households, a one-time ₹10,000 grant for every family, and three free LPG cylinders annually during Pongal, Tamil Puthandu and Deepavali.

The manifesto, comprising 27 key promises across 16 sections, was launched on Tamil New Year’s Day and the birth anniversary of B. R. Ambedkar by Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda, in the presence of State BJP chief Nainar Nagenthran, former president K. Annamalai, senior leader Tamilisai Soundararajan and Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

Targeting women voters, the party announced a ₹25,000 subsidy for e-scooters and interest-free loans up to ₹50 lakh for women-led cooperatives, self-help groups and MSMEs, along with a 20 per cent government procurement quota.

For youth and students, the BJP promised Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics training through weekly sessions at Block Resource Centres, ₹10 lakh interest-free loans for first-generation learners, education loan waivers for unemployed graduates, and 1 lakh government jobs. It also pledged free coaching support, district-level training centres with Tamil-medium options, and industry-linked skill programmes.

Entrepreneurship and startups feature prominently, with interest-free loans up to ₹15 lakh for 2,000 first-time youth entrepreneurs and additional incentives under the PM Surya Ghar scheme.

In agriculture, among other measures, the BJP announced a ₹3,000 State top-up to PM-KISAN, taking annual assistance to ₹9,000, along with a ₹50,000 one-time grant for small and marginal farmers under the Uzhavar Uruthunai scheme.

Interestingly, the party said it would provide one native cow breed of geographical importance or two milking goats to small and marginal female farmers, both as a source of income and to safeguard native cow breeds that are a cultural insignia of Tamil Nadu.

However, this is not the first time a party has promised to offer cattle. In 2011, the then chief minister J Jayalalithaa government launched the free distribution of milch cows and goats/sheep to beneficiaries, which was well received. This was in line with a promise in her election manifesto then. In fact, a study on this particular move showed that estimated milk production, which was 54.74 lakh Metric Tonnes during 2005- ‘06 in Tamil Nadu increased to 72.44 lakh Metric Tonnes during 2015- ‘16.

Speaking at the launch, BJP Leader JP Nadda said, “the cultural capital Tamil Nadu has now been converted into a crime capital. There is full of resentment against the DMK; against this dynastic family rule and against crime and corruption. If I talk about the drugs, a generation now is being chemically erased. In drug-related offenses, the surge is 51 per cent. Now you can imagine that what they have done in past 5 years..”

On law and order, the BJP’s manifesto promises a crackdown on crimes against women through zero-FIR systems, fast-track courts, CCTV coverage in public spaces, and improved use of the Nirbhaya Fund.

Addressing drug abuse, the party proposed a dedicated Tamil Nadu Drug Eradication Department, a specialised anti-narcotics task force, and stricter enforcement, including capital punishment for repeat offenders under the NDPS Act.

On industrial growth, the party plans to establish 10 plug-and-play industrial parks under the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojana and promote sector-specific corridors. Infrastructure commitments include expanding rail connectivity through high-speed corridors such as Chennai-Bengaluru and Chennai-Hyderabad, new sleeper Vande Bharat trains linking Chennai with major metros, and semi-urban rail networks.

The manifesto also proposes making Tamil Nadu the “Desalination Capital of India” with 500 MLD additional capacity and a dedicated research centre in Cuddalore.

Among cultural promises, the BJP said it would ensure continuation of traditions such as lighting the Karthigai Deepam at Thiruparankundram hill. The party says it will also implement an exclusive two-hour darshan window per day at all major high-footfall temples in each district reserved solely for the local residents.

Drawing inspiration from the timeless Tamil concept of Ainthinai - Kuruni (mountains); Mullai (forests); Marutham (agricultural plains); neithal (coastal areas) and Paalai (arid land- ) from the Sangam literature, the BJP said the manifesto reimagines development through the lens of nature, culture and human values.

“We will ensure that both Development (Vikas) and Cultural Pride (Virasat) go hand in hand for the prosperous development of our State. As Tamil Nadu rises through innovation, industry and culture‑driven growth, it will power Bharat’s march towards a developed, resilient and self‑confident Bharatam,” the manifesto said.

Published on April 14, 2026