Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Udhayanidhi Slams TVK Agri Budget, Demands All-Party Cauvery Meet
In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, the leader of the opposition party is very upset with the government.
The government is led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, and its political party is called the TVK.
The government just shared its new plan to help farmers, called the agriculture budget.
The opposition leader, Udhayanidhi Stalin, says this plan is absolutely nothing and that the government is betraying farmers.
He says the government promised to completely erase the loan debts of farmers who own up to five acres of land, but it did not keep that promise.
To show support for the farmers, opposition members wore black shirts at the state assembly.
There is also a big fight over a river called the Cauvery.
The opposition says Karnataka is not sending Tamil Nadu its fair share of river water and refuses to talk about it.
They want all political parties to sit together and talk about the river problem and the Mekedatu dam.
They also want the chief minister to answer their questions in the assembly.
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin called the TVK government's maiden agriculture budget 'absolutely nothing' and accused Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of betraying farmers.
DMK MLAs wore black shirts to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly to protest alleged government inaction on farm loan waivers, the Mekedatu dam crisis, and the failure to convene an all-party meeting on the Cauvery dispute.
Udhayanidhi said the government defaulted on its poll promise of complete crop loan waivers for farmers holding up to five acres, noting the waiver cap was raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 after intense farmer demand.
DMK legislators submitted an adjournment motion notice to the Assembly Speaker to debate the Cauvery row, alleging Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar flatly declined talks on Tamil Nadu's due share of water.
Udhayanidhi accused the administration of merely rebranding existing schemes and challenged the Chief Minister to address farmers' concerns on the Assembly floor.
Farmers have been suffering for the past three months and conducting continuous agitations, with the DMK wearing black shirts in solidarity with them.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and DMK MLAs, opposing the TVK government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay; Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is also named.
- What
- The DMK called the TVK government's maiden agriculture budget 'absolutely nothing,' protested unfulfilled farm loan waiver promises and the Mekedatu dam crisis, and demanded an all-party meeting on the Cauvery row.
- When
- Thursday, the day the TVK government presented its maiden agriculture budget.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in Chennai; comments were also made to reporters outside the Assembly.
- Why
- The DMK says the government defaulted on promised complete crop loan waivers and that Karnataka refused to release Tamil Nadu's due share of Cauvery water, leaving farmers suffering for the past three months.
DMK Opposition
TVK Government / Karnataka
Agriculture budget
DMK Opposition
The DMK calls the TVK government's maiden agriculture budget 'absolutely nothing,' saying it merely rebrands existing schemes while failing to address core agrarian issues.
TVK Government / Karnataka
The TVK government presented the budget as its first agriculture budget; its detailed defense of the budget was not reported in the articles.
Farm loan waivers
DMK Opposition
The DMK says the government broke its promise of complete crop loan waivers for farmers with up to five acres and that farmers still demand the full waiver.
TVK Government / Karnataka
The waiver cap was revised upward from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000 following intense demand from farmers, showing the government took some action, per the opposition's account.
Cauvery water sharing
DMK Opposition
The DMK says Karnataka unilaterally refused to release Tamil Nadu's due share of Cauvery water and that Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar flatly declined talks, leaving Tamil Nadu farmers stranded.
TVK Government / Karnataka
Karnataka, per the DMK's account, declined to discuss releasing Tamil Nadu's share; Karnataka's own reasons were not reported in the articles.
- Government
- TVK government led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay
- Opposition
- DMK, led by Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin
- Event
- Maiden agriculture budget presented by the TVK government
- When
- Thursday
- Where
- Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Chennai
- Farm loan waiver cap
- Raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000; farmers demand the full waiver promised for holdings up to five acres
- Protest action
- DMK MLAs wore black shirts in solidarity with farmers
- Key demands
- All-party meeting on Cauvery and Mekedatu; adjournment motion notice submitted to the Assembly Speaker
