In a fiery rebuttal, Tamil Nadu’s BJP unit on Tuesday tore into the 2026-27 interim budget, dubbing it a deceptive ‘mirage’ that masks the DMK government’s fiscal mismanagement. Spokesperson ANS Prasad charged that the document, tabled by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, prioritizes debt accumulation over genuine development in vital areas such as economy, industry, and citizen welfare.
Prasad minced no words: despite tall claims of robust double-digit growth under CM MK Stalin, the average Tamil Nadu resident sees no tangible improvements. ‘This so-called progress has enriched only the political elite – leaders, party functionaries, and MLAs – while the broader populace battles hardships,’ he stated.
The spokesperson cataloged a litany of neglected issues. Demands from educators, healthcare workers, engineers, farmers, differently-abled individuals, nurses, municipal staff, and anganwadi workers have been ignored amid ongoing agitations for the last half-decade.
Infrastructure lapses were spotlighted: scant details on the North Chennai project, vague allocations for Cooum River cleanup, and zero concrete plans to evict illegal occupations from watercourses – even as courts have issued stern directives.
On the debt front, Prasad probed the fate of the expert panel supposedly tasked with revenue enhancement and financial prudence. ‘The state is on a reckless borrowing path; Stalin must come clean,’ he urged.
Ultimately, the BJP deemed the budget ‘people-hostile,’ accusing the DMK of reneging on electoral pledges and alienating key voter segments. This salvo signals escalating opposition scrutiny as Tamil Nadu navigates economic challenges.