AIADMK Slams Tamil Nadu Budget Over Debt and Broken Promises

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Marie Wilson presented the state budget for the 2026-27 financial year, outlining a strategy to reach a 1.5 trillion-dollar economy by 2031. The budget addressed rising financial liabilities that have doubled over five years and proposed a more accountable tendering system to prevent contracts from going to political affiliates.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami rejected the budget, assigning it an overall score of "zero" and calling it a "huge disappointment." Palaniswami accused the TVK administration, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, of practicing "sticker politics" by rebranding existing welfare programs rather than introducing new initiatives during its first 85 days in power.

Palaniswami specifically highlighted the government's failure to deliver on electoral promises, including farm loan waivers, six free LPG cylinders, and a Rs 2,500 honorarium for women. He further questioned the state's fiscal stability, citing a debt of Rs 10.98 lakh crore and a fiscal deficit of Rs 1,21,819 crore. He dismissed a newly formed five-member expert committee on state finances as a mechanism to justify additional borrowing.