3 weeks ago
DMK MLAs Wear Black Shirts Ahead of Tamil Nadu Budget
In a place in India called Tamil Nadu, the grown-ups who run the state showed everyone a big money plan called a budget.
The budget tells people how the government will spend money in the coming year.
Some of the politicians, who belong to a group called the DMK, did not like the plan at all.
They wore black shirts to the big meeting to show they were upset.
Their leader, Mr. Stalin, said the plan was just a copy of older plans and did not help farmers enough.
Another DMK leader said the government is borrowing too much money, like using a credit card too much.
The government says its plan will make Tamil Nadu very rich and successful by 2031.
It wants to fix thousands of schools and give laptops to college students.
So some people think the budget is great, while others think it is a waste.
That is why everyone is talking about it.
DMK legislators wore black shirts on Thursday ahead of the presentation of the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Budget in the State Assembly.
DMK president M.K. Stalin called the TVK-led government's first budget a 'total waste' and a 'remake version' of schemes from the previous DMK government.
Former Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu alleged that figures in the government's white paper contradicted the budget documents and warned of a borrowing spree.
Finance Minister Marie Wilson presented the 2026-27 state budget, which aims to transform Tamil Nadu into a USD 1.5 trillion economy by 2031.
The budget allocated Rs 300 crore to modernise 3,734 government schools, Rs 139 crore for the first phase of 'Super Clean, Super Campus', and announced the 'Vetri Laptop Scheme' for college students.
- Who
- DMK legislators and party president M.K. Stalin, who protested and criticised the budget; Finance Minister Marie Wilson, who presented it.
- What
- DMK MLAs wore black shirts in the State Assembly while the party criticised the TVK-led government's first budget as a 'total waste' lacking original ideas.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu State Assembly, Chennai.
- When
- Thursday for the black-shirt protest, a day after the 2026-27 state budget was presented on Wednesday.
- Why
- The DMK says the budget failed to meet expectations, did not address farmers' issues or the rising cost of living, and involved borrowing that could raise state debt.
DMK (Opposition)
TVK-led State Government
Originality and quality of the budget
DMK (Opposition)
Stalin says the first budget is a 'total waste' and a 'remake version' of schemes from the previous DMK government, with no original ideas and unmet promises.
TVK-led State Government
The government presented the budget as a roadmap to transform Tamil Nadu into a USD 1.5 trillion economy by 2031, backed by new initiatives such as the 'Vetri Laptop Scheme' and 'Super Clean, Super Campus'.
State finances and borrowing
DMK (Opposition)
Thennarasu alleges the white paper's figures contradict the budget documents and warns that a borrowing spree could push debt to Rs 20 lakh crore by the end of the term.
TVK-led State Government
The government released a white paper on the state's finances alongside the budget, which allocates funds to schools, campus upgrades and digital learning as part of its growth plan.
Key facts
- State
- Tamil Nadu
- Event
- Presentation of the 2026-27 state budget and the Agriculture Budget
- Finance Minister
- Marie Wilson
- Economic target
- USD 1.5 trillion economy by 2031
- School modernisation
- Rs 300 crore for 3,734 government schools
- Super Clean, Super Campus
- Rs 139 crore first phase covering 10,000 schools
- Net borrowing (per Thennarasu)
- Rs 22,000 crore
- Debt warning (per Thennarasu)
- Rs 20 lakh crore by end of five-year term if trend continues
Quotes
Thangam Thennarasu
Former Tamil Nadu Finance Minister and DMK MLA
“The state's net borrowing now stood at Rs 22,000 crore and warned that, if the trend continued, Tamil Nadu's debt could reach Rs 20 lakh crore by the end of the government's five-year term.”
deccanchronicle.com









