Opposition leaders Kanimozhi and Su Venkatesan criticized the Union Budget 2026-27, calling it a document lacking vision and change. They accused the BJP-led government of neglecting states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which are heading into Assembly elections. Despite high expectations for significant announcements in the Budget, especially for states with upcoming elections, the leaders found it lacking in meaningful proposals for the region.
Kanimozhi expressed disappointment with the Budget, stating that even elections did not prompt the government to address Tamil Nadu’s needs. She criticized the deliberate neglect of the state, despite its substantial contribution to the national economy. Su Venkatesan echoed these sentiments, labeling the Budget as the worst presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He highlighted that the Budget seemed designed to exploit rather than support Tamil Nadu’s resources, reflecting a continued indifference to the needs of southern states.
Venkatesan pointed out the absence of crucial infrastructure projects like the Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail schemes in the Budget. He also criticized the lack of fresh infrastructure announcements for Tamil Nadu and Kerala, despite repeated requests. Additionally, he raised concerns over the proposed establishment of special economic corridors for rare earth mineral exploration in states like Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
The opposition leaders accused the government of prioritizing political control over cooperative federalism, stating that the Budget failed to include positive, people-centric measures. They highlighted the Budget’s disregard for states’ rights over mineral wealth and criticized the lack of commitment to people’s welfare and development.
