Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has credited ₹5,000 each to 1.31 crore women beneficiaries under the Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme, triggering intense political debate ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
The ruling DMK government announced that the payment includes ₹3,000 as advance entitlement for February, March and April, along with a ₹2,000 “summer special package.” The amount was reportedly transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts on Friday.
Stalin Defends the Move
Addressing beneficiaries, Stalin said the decision was taken in anticipation of potential attempts to stall the scheme due to the approaching elections.
“You would have received ₹5,000 this morning. This is an advance provision to ensure that no obstacles prevent women from receiving their rightful entitlement,” he stated.
He further reaffirmed his commitment to the scheme, describing it as a promise made to the women of Tamil Nadu. Stalin also announced that if the DMK returns to power, the existing monthly assistance of ₹1,000 would be doubled to ₹2,000.
Appealing to beneficiaries, he urged women to use the funds for essential needs such as children’s education, healthcare and household expenses.
BJP Calls It ‘Election Fear’
The announcement immediately drew sharp reactions from the BJP. Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan accused Stalin of playing “blame politics” against the Centre and alleged that the payout was driven by electoral anxiety.
She stated that the move reflected fear of anti-incumbency and asserted that Tamil Nadu voters would not be influenced by financial incentives. She also credited the Centre’s digital and financial inclusion initiatives — such as Jan Dhan accounts and Mudra loans — for enabling direct benefit transfers and empowering women entrepreneurs in the state.
BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy echoed similar criticism, calling the move an attempt to “lure voters.” He alleged governance failures during the DMK’s tenure and said voters would not forget issues related to law and order.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran also accused the DMK of failing to fulfil earlier promises made in 2021 and termed the latest payout politically motivated.
Vijay Questions Timing of Announcement
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay also questioned the timing and structure of the transfer. He pointed out that the monthly assistance is usually credited on the 15th of each month, but this time was transferred on the 13th.
He further questioned the sudden introduction of a ₹2,000 “summer special package,” asking why such an announcement was made unexpectedly.
Vijay alleged that rising public support for his party, especially among women voters, had created pressure on the ruling DMK, prompting the move.
DMK Hits Back
Responding to opposition criticism, DMK leader TKS Elangovan accused the BJP of attempting to obstruct welfare schemes meant for women and described the party as “anti-Tamil” in its approach to state welfare initiatives.
Political Stakes Rising
With Assembly elections approaching, the Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme has emerged as a central political issue in Tamil Nadu. While the ruling DMK projects the transfer as a commitment to women’s empowerment, opposition parties frame it as a pre-election strategy.
The coming weeks are expected to see further political sparring as parties compete to consolidate women voters — a key electoral segment in the state.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
