Chennai, Aug 5 (PTI) The maiden budget of the TVK government drew sharp criticism from the united opposition on Wednesday, with the opposition leaders unanimously terming the financial statement as relying heavily on renaming existing schemes rather than fulfilling key electoral promises.
Opposition parties like DMK, AIADMK, DMDK, PMK, and CPI expressed profound disappointment over the government’s silence on major manifesto pledges, mounting state debt, and reduced allocations for essential sectors like agriculture and school education.
Leader of the Opposition and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin dismissed the budget and the government’s first 100 days in power as a “huge zero”. He accused the TVK government of merely pasting its stickers on schemes introduced by the previous DMK government.
“They promised change, but the only change they have brought is renaming our schemes.
‘Anbu Cholai’ has been renamed as elderly centres, and the DMK government’s housing scheme, ‘Kalaignar Kanavu Illam’ is now ‘Vetri Veedu’, Udhayanidhi alleged.
He further flayed the government for cutting school education funds from Rs 48,500 crore in the previous DMK budget to Rs 44,500 crore, while strongly criticising recent police action against protesting farmers in Thanjavur.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami echoed these sentiments, giving the budget a “zero” rating. He highlighted the state’s alarming financial health, pointing out that the overall debt has swelled to Rs 10.98 lakh crore, alongside a revenue deficit of Rs 55,785 crore and a fiscal deficit of Rs 1.21 lakh crore.
“In the 85 days since this government took over, not a single new scheme has been introduced. They have completely ignored their election promises, including the Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women, six free LPG cylinders, Rs 3,000 old-age pension, and the full crop loan waiver,” Palaniswami stated, demanding a concrete roadmap for revenue generation.
The failure to deliver on the promised six free LPG cylinders and unemployment doles was a recurring grievance among allied and independent leaders. MMK Chief M H Jawahirullah noted that Finance Minister Marie Wilson’s speech completely omitted the promised Rs 4,000 monthly dole for unemployed graduates, Rs 2,500 for diploma holders, and free electricity for weavers.
MJK MLA M Thamimun Ansari dismissed it as a “cosmetic budget” lacking operational feasibility.
Similarly, DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth lamented the absence of district-specific industrial projects to generate employment and criticised the lack of actionable strategies to rescue the state from its Rs 10 lakh crore debt burden.
Farmers’ welfare emerged as another major flashpoint.
PMK leader Sowmiya Anbumani expressed dismay that agriculture received less than a one per cent allocation. “Farmers were waiting for a complete cooperative crop loan waiver, but it was a massive disappointment. Furthermore, there was no mention of closing down TASMAC shops to enforce phased prohibition,” she said.
Despite the overarching criticism, the budget did find piecemeal appreciation for specific administrative initiatives.
PMK welcomed the announcement on enacting Right to Services Act — ensuring public service delivery within 15 days — as well as the announcements on ‘Thaimaman Seer’ and elderly care schemes.
CPI leader T Ramachandran praised the Rs 53,000 crore cumulative allocation for education and the Rs 21,000 crore integrated road development project, though he urged the government to pass a special act against honour killings and regularise contract workers.
Meanwhile, the MMK welcomed the decision to name a state award after the late freedom fighter Quaid-e-Millath. PTI JR JR ADB
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