AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday said the DMK, after coming to power, had stopped the free laptop scheme for students introduced by the previous AIADMK government, and announced its resumption for college students just months before the elections, only with the intention of securing their votes.
Mr. Palaniswami was addressing workers of the AIADMK and its alliance partners at Thiruporur in Chengalpattu district, as part of his State-wide Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom campaign.
The AIADMK government had provided free laptops to nearly 52 lakh students and allocated ₹7,350 crore for the scheme, which the DMK government stopped after coming to power in 2021, he alleged.
“Now, with elections approaching, the DMK government has promised to distribute laptops to students. It is a blatant lie and attempt to get their votes. The AIADMK will resume the free laptop scheme for the welfare of students if voted to power in 2026,” he said.
Mr. Palaniswami also accused Chief Minister M.K. Stalin of spreading misinformation that the rural jobs scheme was being “diluted”. According to him, the Centre had increased the guaranteed employment from 100 days (under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) to 125 days (now under the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin), based on the AIADMK’s demand.
He further alleged that the DMK government had not revised wages for workers under the scheme. He said his party would take steps to increase the number of guaranteed working days from 125 to 150 if voted to power.
Listing several welfare measures implemented by the previous AIADMK government, Mr. Palaniswami said it had effectively managed the State’s economy during the COVID-19 period, even when there were no tax revenues for nearly a year due to pandemic-induced lockdowns.
He also demanded the State government disburse ₹5,000 in cash to every ration card holder as a Pongal gift. He promised if voted to power, his party would provide a subsidy of ₹25,000 to five lakh women to purchase two-wheelers, increase the lean-period cash assistance for fishermen, and resume marriage assistance and gold-for-thali schemes for women.
Published – December 28, 2025 10:56 pm IST
