Centre ignored Tamil Nadu knowing defeat is imminent: MK Stalin slams Union Budget
India Today
MK Stalin slammed the Union Budget 2026 as a 'total disappointment', accusing the BJP-led Centre of ignoring Tamil Nadu by denying key funds, cutting allocations to major schemes, and failing to increase states' tax share.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Union Budget 2026, terming it an “unprecedented disappointment” and accusing the BJP-led Union government of completely ignoring the interests of the state. Stalin alleged that the Centre had once again neglected Tamil Nadu “knowing defeat is imminent” in the upcoming Assembly elections.
In a detailed statement, the DMK leader said that as the state prepares to go to the polls, there had been an expectation that its concerns would be acknowledged in the Budget.
“We had hoped that, at least this year, Tamil Nadu would be visible to the eyes of the Union BJP Government, and that our rightful voice would reach their ears. Shattering those expectations, the Union BJP Government has instead delivered deep disappointment,” he said.
The Chief Minister claimed that the Budget did not include any major schemes to benefit the poor, women, farmers and marginalised sections. He criticised the Centre for not announcing new projects for Tamil Nadu and for failing to address the release of pending funds under key programmes.
Stalin said the long-standing demand of Tamil Nadu and several other states to increase the states’ share in total tax revenue from 41 per cent to 50 per cent had been ignored yet again. “The announcement that the states’ share will continue at just 41 per cent is deeply disappointing,” he said.
Stalin also expressed concern over Tamil Nadu’s share in tax devolution, which is expected to remain at 4.097 per cent for the next five years. Citing preliminary estimates, he said this could result in an annual revenue loss of around Rs 5,000 crore compared to other comparable states. He further stated that Tamil Nadu’s share in Union taxes had been reduced by approximately Rs 1,200 crore this year, at a time when GST reforms had adversely affected states’ revenues.
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