AIADMK Chief Rates First TVK-led Tamil Nadu Budget 'Zero Marks' Over Unfulfilled Promises

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday criticised the first Budget presented by the Tamil Nadu government led by the TVK coalition, handing it "zero marks" for what he said was a failure to include any new schemes or fulfil the ruling party's pre-election promises.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat after the Budget presentation, Mr. Palaniswami alleged that the government had merely renamed existing schemes. "The TVK had made several poll promises before coming to power. But there is not a single new scheme in the Budget. Only a sticker has been pasted on the existing schemes. None of the poll promises were fulfilled," he said.

The first Budget of the new coalition government is significant as it lays out the fiscal priorities for the coming years. The TVK, which leads the coalition, had campaigned on a platform of increased welfare spending, including higher allowances for women and senior citizens. The AIADMK, as the principal opposition party, has been scrutinising the Budget for any signs of deviation from these commitments.

Specifically, Mr. Palaniswami noted that the TVK had promised to raise the monthly entitlement for women to ₹2,500 and the old-age pension to ₹3,000. Neither was announced in the Budget. He also asked about the promise to increase medical insurance cover to ₹25 lakh for all families. "What happened to that promise?" he asked.

Beyond welfare measures, the AIADMK chief expressed concern over the state's finances. "There are no proper commitments to restore the State's financial position. Merely forming a committee will not restore the State finances," he said. He drew a parallel with the previous DMK government, which he said had formed an expert committee but still increased the state's debt by ₹5 lakh crore.

A revenue deficit, which occurs when a government's revenue receipts fall short of its revenue expenditure, has been a persistent challenge for Tamil Nadu. Mr. Palaniswami suggested that the new government needed to present concrete steps rather than appointing committees, which he said had not yielded results in the past.

Mr. Palaniswami also highlighted the AIADMK's own record, recalling schemes implemented during its tenure, such as the gold-for-thaali scheme, which provided gold for the traditional mangalsutra worn by married women, and the distribution of goats and cows to rural households. He presented these as examples of direct welfare measures that had reached the people.

The government is yet to respond to the criticisms. The Budget will now be scrutinised in the Assembly during debates, where opposition parties are expected to press for details on allocations and revenue projections. The TVK-led coalition assumed office following a decisive electoral verdict, and this Budget is seen as an early test of its governance credentials.

As with any political statement, Mr. Palaniswami's remarks represent the opposition's perspective. The government's official response, which will likely come in the form of a reply to the debate, will provide a clearer picture of its economic strategy. Independent analysts are also expected to assess the Budget's implications in the coming days, offering a more comprehensive evaluation of its fiscal measures.