Assembly elections: Why Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have similar but divergent characteristics

For these elections, the manifestoes of the regional parties in these three states reflect this path dependence. The DMK is industry-friendly, welfarist and populist in its promises. The CPI(M) in Kerala is oriented towards social justice, but its populism is more structural than in Tamil Nadu (not just election oriented). For instance, the DMK manifesto promises ₹8,000 for the purchase of household appliances and a basic income of ₹2,000 for all poor women.