Tamil Nadu election 2026: EPS promises Rs 10,000 ‘karunai thogai’ for all families if AIADMK comes to power

CHENNAI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami sought to counter the welfare push of DMK by announcing a one-time grant of Rs 10,000 to every family in the state if AIADMK is voted to power.

The announcement, part of AIADMK’s third phase of poll promises, was made after EPS paid homage to late chief minister J Jayalalithaa at the AIADMK headquarters here, marking her 78th birth anniversary.

“It will be given to every family to offset the financial burden caused by price hike and increase in taxes by the DMK govt,’’ EPS said.

The move comes days after chief minister M K Stalin credited Rs 5,000 in the accounts of 1.31 crore women beneficiaries of Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT). DMK had also announced that the monthly dole under KMUT would be doubled once DMK forms the govt again.

While DMK’s promise was a targeted reachout for KMUT beneficiaries, EPS upped the ante by announcing Rs 10,000 for every family.

EPS also appeared to have an answer for the debate of financial feasibility of the promise. “We will consult with financial experts and come up with plans to augment tax revenue,’’ he said. EPS said it’s too early to speculate about tax hikes and added that the previous AIADMK regime managed the Covid period without increasing taxes.

EPS initially described the Rs 10,000 grant as ‘karunai thogai’ (compassionate sum). Hours later, AIADMK issued a statement altering it as ‘uthavi thogai’ (financial assistance), after DMK hit out at AIADMK alleging that ‘karunai thogai’ belittles people. DMK said they were calling KMUT dole ‘entitlement sum’.

EPS also announced a few more promises, seeking to woo unemployed youth, fishermen, weavers and street vendors. Targeting around 65 lakh unemployed youth, he promised a monthly allowance of Rs 2,000 for unemployed graduates and Rs 1,000 for Class XII-qualified youth registered with employment exchanges.

For the fishermen, assistance during the annual fishing ban period would be increased from Rs 8,000 to Rs 12,000, while all ration cardholders would receive Rs 1,000 Pongal gift, EPS announced. He also said the free electricity quotas for handloom and powerloom weavers would be increased and that cooperative loans for urban street vendors would be waived.