Stalin Criticises TVK Agri Budget for Ignoring Drought and Delta Farmers

DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday criticised the Tamil Nadu government's maiden agriculture budget, calling it "hollow" and accusing the C. Joseph Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) administration of failing to address pressing concerns faced by farmers. In a post on X, Stalin alleged that the budget overlooked key issues such as drought, crop losses and the challenges confronting farmers across the state, particularly those in the Cauvery Delta region.

Stalin claimed the agriculture budget focused more on praising the chief minister than presenting meaningful policy measures for the farming community. He alleged that the government had merely repackaged schemes introduced under the previous DMK administration instead of launching fresh initiatives to support agriculture. Referring to the state's existing welfare programmes, he questioned whether the government believed rebranding earlier schemes was sufficient to address the needs of farmers.

The former chief minister also highlighted the plight of farmers affected by poor Kuruvai cultivation in the Delta region, alleging that the budget failed to provide any substantial relief. According to Stalin, farmers waiting for government assistance after drought conditions and crop losses received no meaningful support in the financial plan. Calling the budget "utterly hollow," he urged the government to respond to the concerns raised by the farming community and take concrete steps to resolve their problems.

Also Read: Revised Budget 2026-27: TVK Government To Set Up AI, Innovation City 'Arivagam' In Tamil Nadu

Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin also criticised the agriculture budget, describing it as "absolutely nothing" while speaking to reporters outside the Assembly. He accused the Vijay-led government of failing to fulfil its election promises to farmers and reiterated the DMK's demand for an all-party meeting on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute and the Mekedatu project. Udhayanidhi alleged that the chief minister had remained silent on these issues despite repeated appeals from the opposition.

The opposition leader further alleged that the government had failed to honour its promise of a complete crop loan waiver for farmers owning up to five acres of land. While the waiver limit was initially announced at Rs 50,000 and later increased to Rs 75,000 following demands from farmers, Udhayanidhi claimed that cultivators continue to seek the full waiver promised during the election campaign. The Tamil Nadu government has not yet issued a detailed response to the criticisms made by the DMK leaders regarding the agriculture budget.

Also Read: Tamil Nadu Inks Four MoUs, Expects 2,900 Jobs Across Key Sectors