BJP Releases Election Manifesto For Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls, promises 3 LPG cylinders free of cost

Chennai: Ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday has released its poll manifesto in Chennai, promising a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 to all women heads of households and three LPG cylinders free of cost. Union Minister JP Nadda, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran, and BJP leaders K Annamalai and Tamilisai Soundararajan were present at the event.

What is there in the manifesto?

In the election manifesto, the party announced that if it comes to power, it will provide Rs 2,000 per month to every women head of household and a one-time financial assistance of Rs 10,000 to every family. 

The BJP is contesting 27 seats in this election as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with the  All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

What else did the manifesto promise?

The BJP's manifesto, which is betting heavily on women voters, promised three LPG cylinders free of cost, each on the occasions of Pongal, Tamil Puthandu and Diwali.

Measures to ensure women's safety include zero-FIR laws, fast-track FIR courts, and the installation of CCTV cameras in buses, schools, and colleges. It also promises interest-free loans of up to Rs 50 lakh to women's self-help groups and small industries.

What about religious and cultural announcements?

The BJP has promised to declare Thaipusam, associated with Lord Murugan, a state festival. It has also vowed to revive and preserve the tradition of lighting Karthigai Deepam on the Tirupparankundram hill. This issue has previously been a major bone of contention between the DMK and the BJP. 

The party has also promised to strengthen the rail network in Tamil Nadu. This includes plans like the Chennai-Bangalore and Chennai-Hyderabad high-speed rail corridors, the Coimbatore-Tirupur-Salem RRTS, and new Vande Bharat trains connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Meanwhile, the BJP's ally, the AIADMK, has also promised Rs 2,000 to women heads of households in its manifesto. Additionally, its manifesto includes plans for providing rice and lentils to ration card holders, a free refrigerator, and free bus travel for men. 

What did JP Nadda say?

On this occasion, Union Minister and former BJP National President JP Nadda said that, "The key highlights of the manifesto are that we will be providing a monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 to all women heads of the households and a one-time sum of Rs 10,000 to every household when we come to power under the AIADMK leadership. We'll be providing free LPG cylinders free of cost every year."

While talking about women safety, Nadda said that, "To tackle crimes, will start zero FIR reporting. We will have victim-witness protection, and we will have special fast-track courts for heinous crimes, including sexual offences. We will have 100 per cent blind spot-free CCTVs in buses, schools and universities. We will optimise the Nirbhay fund utilisation. Women-led cooperatives, the self-help groups, the MSMEs with interest-free loans up to Rs 50 lakhs will be provided, and manufacturing units will be mandating that 20 per cent of the procurement quota will go to these cooperatives that we are going to do. We will be giving Rs 25,000 to the eligible women to purchase e-scooters. For farmers, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, where you get Rs 6000 per year, we will be providing a top-up of Rs 3000. So, Rs 9000 per year will be given to every farmer..."