When welfare measures to uplift underprivileged sections are deployed as a political tool in an election year it raises the question whether it is an instance of affirmative action or merely a cynical device that plays out as a poll-eve incentive. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s surgical action of crediting ₹5,000 each in the bank accounts of over 1.31 crore women beneficiaries of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT), triggers exactly this uncomfortable thought. The KMUT, in operation since September 2023, envisages a monthly direct transfer of ₹1,000 “rights grant” recognising the dignity and contribution of women heads of families. Notably 32% of its beneficiaries are SC/STs. Citing political and legal apprehensions that the scheme, which is being projected as a rights-based social entitlement and not as a populist freebie, could be suspended prior to the Assembly election, Mr. Stalin chose to give it the force of a political multiplier by disbursing ₹3,000 each for February, March and April in one go. He also introduced a novel “summer assistance” of ₹2,000. Mr. Stalin’s concerns about the possibility of the scheme being stopped after the announcement of the election schedule are not unwarranted. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has not been consistent in its interpretation of what constitutes a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. A recent precedent for voter incentivisation emerged during the 2025 Bihar elections, when the JD(U)-BJP coalition deposited ₹10,000 each to one crore women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. The ECI turned a blind eye to what was widely seen as an attempt to buy votes for the ruling coalition with funds from the exchequer. Previously, in Tamil Nadu, the ECI had suspended a cash support scheme for farmers (2004) and distribution of free colour television sets (2011). Adoption of double standards by the ECI when it comes to adjudication of such issues has become common.
The overall outgo from the exchequer on a single day exceeded ₹6,550 crore including an unplanned expenditure of ₹2,620 crore for the summer component. Offering cash benefits through government schemes on poll eve does not guarantee absolute voter loyalty. But it certainly places the ruling party in the pole position to politically leverage the exchequer. Unless the ECI plays fair in the implementation of the model code, it is difficult to fault such measures by those in power. At least, in the case of Tamil Nadu, this was an ongoing scheme since 2023, and only the newly added summer assistance raises a political stink. But, in the context of what the BJP-led coalition did in Bihar, this is innocuous.
Published – February 16, 2026 12:20 am IST
