Opposition calls TVK’s budget recycled

The opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) criticized the Tamilagam Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) over its inaugural budget, claiming it merely recycled schemes from the previous DMK regime. DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin accused Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of using review meetings with government officials as publicity stunts, rather than substantive policy work.

The DMK also alleged the budget diluted a campaign promise to provide a gold scheme to all children born in Tamil Nadu, stating the current version only applies to those born in government hospitals. DMK President M K Stalin questioned the budget's lack of innovation, stating it offered no new vision for the state. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami pointed out the state's debt stood at ₹10.98 lakh crore, and the TVK government had taken on an additional ₹20,000 crore in debt, spending ₹17,000 crore since taking power.

Palaniswami demanded the budget explain how the debt would be repaid and how new projects would be funded without increasing revenue. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B Manickam Tagore defended the budget, saying it fulfilled campaign promises despite financial constraints and applauded the formation of a committee to boost economic growth.

However, State BJP chief spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy criticized the budget as a failure of economic vision, arguing it prioritized short-term welfare measures over investments that could build the state's productive capacity and generate jobs.