‘Charade aimed at deceiving the public’: Chief minister M.K. Stalin bashes Union Budget 2025 for ignoring Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday criticised the Union Budget 2025 for ignoring the state. He said the budget was completely “biased” and betrayed the expectations of the people of Tamil Nadu.

In a statement, Stalin slammed the centre and union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman for neglecting Tamil Nadu, despite the various demands put forth by the state. He said Tamil Nadu, despite occupying a prominent place in the reports of the union government, has been ignored in the budget report.

“Tamil Nadu occupies a prominent place in all the reports of the Union Government, such as the Economic Survey, the ranking of Higher Education Institutions and the NITI Aayog report. Page after page, Tamil Nadu’s activities are praised. However, why is Tamil Nadu completely ignored this year in the Budget report?” Stalin demanded. 

He said the Centre did not have the heart to confirm at least one demand put forth by the state government. “The demands are numerous- highways and railway projects, Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail projects. Why has nothing been given? What is stopping you?” Stalin asked the union government, terming the budget as “prejudiced.” 

Stating that Tamil Nadu has been constantly ignored in the union budget, he highlighted the growing financial burden on Tamil Nadu, pointing out the reduction of the union government’s shares in projects and the restrictions imposed on the state.

“If plans and funds are announced only for states where elections are held, and BJP is in power, what’s the need to call it a Union Budget?” Stalin slammed the union government, saying that it focused only on “advertising rather than the welfare of the people.” He dismissed the budget by calling it a “charade aimed at deceiving the public.”

In a post on social media platform X, DMK MP Kanimozhi called the union budget the Bihar state budget. “In all my years in Parliament, this is the first time I have had the opportunity to listen to the Bihar State Budget in Parliament,” she said.

Tamil Nadu finance minister Thangam Thennarasu expressed “disappointment”, saying that the union budget failed to acknowledge Tamil Nadu’s consistent contribution to the national growth.

“While lesser-contributing states gain disproportionately, Tamil Nadu’s development needs remain unmet,” wrote Thangam Thenarasu, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister on X.

Tamil Nadu opposition leader Edappadi K Palanisami also criticised the union government for ignoring Tamil Nadu while welcoming the move of the tax slab for those under the Rs 12 lakh salary. 

What Tamil Nadu expected from the Union Budget

In fact, at the pre-budget meeting last December, Tamil Nadu’s finance minister Thangam Thennarasu flagged that the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events have risen in TN, and therefore, he said that the funds in state disaster response funds are inadequate to meet the expenses sought a disperse from the NDRF. This time, when cyclone Fengal played havoc in 2024, the state government demanded Rs 6635 crore from the Centre. 

Regarding the Chennai metro rail phase two project, the Centre had taken the stand that it was a state sector project and argued that it had to be entirely funded by the state.

But recently, the Centre made a U-turn and declared that phase two would be a central sector project, and consequently, it had agreed to fund 65 per cent of the Chennai metro rail phase two project’s total cost, which runs to over Rs 63,200 crores.

Tamil Nadu also expressed that it was looking for Rs 2,152 crore for the Samara Shiksha Abhiyan. Thangam Thennarasu said that these funds are crucial for running the school education department. However, these funds were not released to the state because Tamil Nadu declined to implement the national education policy.