Overview
- AIADMK released a first-phase manifesto with five pledges: Rs 2,000 monthly to women heads of households, free city bus travel for men, housing for the homeless, 150 days of rural employment, and Rs 25,000 subsidies for five lakh women to buy two-wheelers.
- The rollout, timed to MGR’s birth anniversary, positions the party’s campaign around welfare delivery and a revival of its ‘Amma’ legacy schemes.
- Congress’ top leadership met Tamil Nadu leaders in New Delhi to consider strategy and demands for a role in governance, even as senior DMK minister I. Periyasamy reiterated there would be no power-sharing.
- AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami sharpened attacks on the Stalin government, alleging large-scale corruption and law-and-order failures, and predicted his alliance would win about 210 seats, while also claiming Congress may drift from the DMK bloc.
- The BJP flagged an NDA rally at Madurantakam on January 23 where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address supporters alongside AIADMK leaders.