Palaniswami Criticizes Revised Budget for Lacking Fiscal Consolidation, New Schemes

AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami has criticized the Revised Budget and Revised Agriculture Budget for 2026-27, asserting that it lacks both fiscal consolidation measures and new schemes. Speaking in the Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Palaniswami stated that while a recently released White Paper on State Finances indicated a significant outstanding debt of ₹13.18 lakh crore and a high revenue deficit, the budget offered no concrete plans to improve financial resources.

Key Criticisms of the Budget

Mr. Palaniswami highlighted that despite the Finance Minister's claim of bringing ₹15,000 crore to the exchequer, this amount was not reflected in revenue receipts. He also questioned the exclusion of the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS), previously allocated ₹14,000 crore in the Interim Budget Estimates 2026-27, from the revenue expenditure. He further alleged that the new government had borrowed ₹20,000 crore within three months of taking office, with approximately ₹17,000 crore designated for revenue expenditure.

Recommendations for Government Action

The AIADMK leader urged the government to expand the 'Super Clean, Super Campus' scheme, which aims to provide daily cleaning, maintenance of water facilities and toilets, and security in government schools. He proposed extending the initiative to all 40,000 government schools and increasing its allocation to at least ₹450 crore, noting that only 10,000 schools were currently included.