Udhayanidhi Stalin Calls Tamil Nadu Budget a 'Zero Budget'

Udhayanidhi Stalin, a DMK leader and MLA, denounced the maiden budget of the Tamil Nadu government as a "zero budget" this week.

The criticism highlights a deepening rift between the current administration and the DMK over the execution of welfare promises and the ownership of social policy. Stalin's remarks suggest that the governing party is attempting to claim credit for initiatives it did not originate.

Speaking during the budget session at the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Stalin said the budget lacked original substance. He said the government merely renamed welfare schemes that his own party had previously introduced to the state.

"It is a total zero budget; the government has only renamed schemes that our party introduced," Stalin said.

Beyond the rebranding of schemes, Stalin said the budget failed to address key promises made during the election cycle. He said several poll promises remain unfulfilled, leaving a gap between the government's public commitments and its fiscal priorities.

The DMK leader's opposition comes amid a high-profile atmosphere at the assembly, where he received a grand welcome upon arrival for the session. His critique centers on the idea that a budget should provide new directions for growth rather than repackaging old policies, a move he views as a failure of governance.