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As the newly formed TVK party enters the electoral arena, all eyes are on the commitments made by actor-turned-politician Vijay, who is emerging as a leading contender to form the government. Among his promises is the provision of 8 grams of gold for weddings, valued at approximately ₹140,000 (22 carats).

In the party's manifesto, Vijay has pledged monthly assistance of ₹2,500 for women under 60, along with the gold for marriages and six free cooking gas cylinders annually for each household.

Current Electoral Standing

According to data from the Election Commission by 3 PM, Vijay's party is leading in 105 assembly constituencies, just shy of the simple majority required in the assembly (118 seats).

He has also promised to provide high-quality silk sarees along with the gold for underprivileged brides and interest-free loans of up to ₹500,000 for women-led self-help groups. Vijay has assured a corruption-free governance if elected.

Focus on Education

The manifesto places significant emphasis on education. To combat school dropouts, it promises an annual payment of ₹15,000 to mothers or guardians of children attending government and state-aided schools.

Vijay has committed to establishing 100 special residential schools named after the renowned leader K. Kamaraj, who is credited with revolutionizing education in the state, and offering loans of up to ₹2 million for higher education.

Agricultural Welfare Initiatives

The welfare of the agricultural sector is also a key focus in the manifesto. The party has vowed to fully waive agricultural cooperative crop loans for farmers with less than five acres of land, while those with larger holdings will receive a 50% loan waiver.

Additionally, it promises a minimum support price of ₹3,500 per quintal for rice and ₹4,500 per ton for sugarcane.

Addressing Youth Unemployment

On the issue of youth unemployment, Vijay has pledged to create 500,000 new government jobs and provide an equal number of subsidized training opportunities. Unemployed graduates will receive monthly assistance of up to ₹4,000.

He has also assured consideration of the old pension scheme for government employees and regularization of contract workers, including nurses.

Health Sector Commitments

In the health sector, Vijay has vowed to work towards a drug-free Tamil Nadu. His commitments include modernizing hospitals, providing free health check-ups annually, and implementing a family health insurance scheme covering up to ₹2.5 million.

Support for the Elderly and Disabled

The manifesto includes provisions for a monthly pension of ₹3,000 for the elderly and disabled, free electricity up to 200 units, regularization of land ownership documents, and ensuring 100% piped drinking water supply to all households.

TVK's policy interventions also guarantee the timely availability of essential government services, such as community certificates and land ownership documents.

Streamlining Governance

Vijay has promised to deliver governance services directly to households, ensuring that essentials like rations reach people’s doorsteps.

He has also assured that ease of doing business will be a top priority, with a strict guarantee that business licenses will be issued within 21 days.

Voting for Tamil Nadu's 234 assembly seats took place on April 23.