Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Tamil Nadu Budget Draws Mixed Reactions Amid Opposition Criticism
The people in charge of Tamil Nadu, a big state in India, announced how the government will spend its money.
This plan is called a budget.
Some people who used to lead the state did not like it.
They said the new team only renamed old plans instead of making new ones.
They said the government borrowed a lot of money and did not keep its promises to people.
One former finance leader said the state owes much more money than before.
But a leader from the Congress party liked the budget.
He said it will bring new jobs and help clean the rivers in Chennai.
Different people can see the same budget in very different ways.
Tamil Nadu's TVK government presented its first full state budget, drawing sharply mixed reactions from political parties.
Former Chief Minister M K Stalin, in a swipe at the 'Reels Chief Minister', dismissed the budget as a 'waste waste' remake that ignored farmers, electricity hikes and price rise.
Former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said the government took a Rs 20,000 crore loan in 85 days and only renamed existing projects.
Former Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said net debt rose to about Rs 1,22,000 crore, capital expenditure was cut by Rs 3,000 crore and the revenue deficit rose by Rs 7,000 crore.
TNCC President Manickam Tagore welcomed the budget, praising Chennai river-cleaning plans and steps to attract foreign investment.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu's TVK government presented the budget; critics included former Chief Ministers M K Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami, Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and former Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, while TNCC President Manickam Tagore supported it.
- What
- The state's first full budget drew mixed political reactions, with critics describing it as a renamed version of previous DMK programmes that fails to meet election promises.
- When
- Exact date not stated in the articles; the budget came roughly 85 days after the TVK government assumed power.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, India.
- Why
- Opposition parties said the budget fails to solve farmers' problems, electricity hikes, price rise and rising debt, while supporters said it promises development, job creation and foreign investment.
Budget Critics (DMK and AIADMK)
Budget Supporters (Congress)
Originality of the budget
Budget Critics (DMK and AIADMK)
Opposition leaders called it a 'zero value' budget that only renamed programmes from the previous DMK government, with no new projects or full financial allocations.
Budget Supporters (Congress)
TNCC President Manickam Tagore welcomed the budget, saying it promises to bring development to the state and increase job opportunities.
Fiscal management
Budget Critics (DMK and AIADMK)
Critics said net debt rose to about Rs 1,22,000 crore, capital expenditure fell by Rs 3,000 crore, the revenue deficit rose by Rs 7,000 crore and the government borrowed Rs 20,000 crore in 85 days.
Budget Supporters (Congress)
Supporters lauded the steps taken to attract foreign investments and to clean up rivers in Chennai.
- Government
- TVK, presenting its first full budget
- Fiscal deficit
- Rs 1,21,819 crore (cited by Edappadi K Palaniswami)
- Net debt
- About Rs 1,22,000 crore, up from Rs 1 lakh crore under DMK (cited by Thangam Thennarasu)
- Loan in first 85 days
- Rs 20,000 crore (cited by Edappadi K Palaniswami)
- Capital expenditure
- Reduced by Rs 3,000 crore (cited by Thangam Thennarasu)
- Revenue expenditure
- Rs 4.05 lakh crore (cited by Thangam Thennarasu)
- Archaeology Department allocation
- Rs 1 crore (cited by Thangam Thennarasu)
- Unfulfilled election promises cited
- 6 free LPG cylinders, senior citizen pension rise to Rs 4,000, Rs 4,000 monthly for unemployed youth