DMK govt. revived laptop scheme for electoral gain: EPS

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami announced on Sunday that the DMK had stopped the free laptop program for students by the previous AIADMK government after coming to power and restarted the free laptop program for college students just months before the elections, just to secure their votes.

Mr. Palaniswami was addressing AIADMK workers and alliance partners at Thiruporur in Chengalpattu district as part of his statewide meeting. Makkalai Kaappom, Thamizhagathai Meetpom offer.

He claimed that the AIADMK government had provided free laptops to around 52 lakh students and allocated ₹7,350 crore for the programme, which the DMK government had discontinued after coming to power in 2021.

“Now, with elections approaching, the DMK government has promised to distribute laptops to students. This is a blatant lie and an attempt to get their votes. AIADMK will continue the free laptop program for students’ welfare if voted to power in 2026,” he said.

Mr. Palaniswami also accused Chief Minister MK Stalin of spreading misinformation that the rural employment scheme has been “watered down”. According to him, the Center had increased the guaranteed employment (under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) from 100 days to 125 days (now under Viksit Bharat – Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission – Gramin Guarantee) based on AIADMK’s demand.

He also alleged that the DMK government did not change the wages of workers under the scheme. He said that if voted into power, his party would take steps to increase the number of guaranteed working days from 125 to 150.

Listing out various welfare measures implemented by the previous AIADMK government, Mr. Palaniswami said that it had effectively managed the State’s economy during the COVID-19 period despite having no tax revenue for almost a year due to the lockdowns caused by the pandemic.

He also requested the State government to pay ₹5,000 in cash as Pongal gift to every ration card holder. He promised that if voted to power, his party would provide subsidy to 25,000 to 5 lakh women to purchase two-wheelers, increase lean period cash assistance for fishermen and continue marriage allowance and gold-for-thali schemes for women.