Chennai, Aug 2026 : DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday sharply criticised the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government's maiden Budget for 2026-27, describing it as a "damp squib" and accusing the ruling party of failing to present a clear development vision or introduce major new initiatives. Reacting to the Revised Budget Estimates for 2026-27 presented in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Stalin said people had expected significant announcements from the new government but were left disappointed.
He alleged that several initiatives announced in the Budget were merely repackaged versions of schemes introduced by the previous DMK government. “People expected it to be a ‘blast’, but it turned out to be a ‘waste’. It is a remake of the ‘Dravidian Model’ government’s Budget,” Stalin said in a social media post, stepping up his attack on the TVK administration. The DMK chief alleged that the Budget had failed to adequately address several issues affecting people across the state, including concerns raised by farmers, electricity consumption billing and the rising cost of essential commodities.
Stalin also questioned the government's silence on several key promises made by the TVK during the Assembly election campaign. He specifically pointed to the absence of financial announcements relating to commitments such as monthly assistance of ₹2,500 for women, ₹4,000 for unemployed youth, six free LPG cylinders and complete waiver of crop loans. According to Stalin, the absence of concrete provisions for these commitments raised questions about the government's intention to implement the assurances made during the election campaign.
He argued that a Budget should provide a clear roadmap for development and welfare rather than simply rename or reproduce existing programmes. Leader of the Opposition and former Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also launched a strong attack on the Budget, alleging that the TVK government had presented several existing schemes under new names instead of introducing substantial initiatives of its own. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat following the Budget presentation, Udhayanidhi claimed that the government was attempting to create an impression of a new policy direction by rebranding programmes that had already been implemented by the previous DMK administration.
He said the Opposition would examine the Budget proposals in detail and use the Assembly proceedings to raise questions about the government's unfulfilled election commitments. Udhayanidhi also referred to his detention by police on Tuesday in connection with a case registered over remarks he allegedly made during a protest in Thanjavur concerning actress Trisha. The DMK has criticised the police action, alleging that it was intended to restrict the Opposition leader from effectively raising political issues against the government ahead of the Budget session.
The criticism from the DMK leadership came immediately after the TVK government presented its first comprehensive financial statement, turning the Budget into a major political flashpoint in the state. With the ruling party seeking to project the Budget as a roadmap for its governance priorities and the DMK questioning its originality and implementation commitments, the Assembly is likely to witness an intense debate over welfare measures, financial allocations, development priorities and the promises made to voters during the election campaign.
