“A disappointing budget… The BJP will be taught a lesson in the 2026 election!”

Chennai: VCK (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan has said that the Union Budget presented today continues to betray Tamil Nadu, and that the people of Tamil Nadu will teach the BJP alliance a lesson in the coming elections.

In a statement released in this regard, he said:

“The Union Finance Minister has presented the ‘Union Budget’ today (#Budget). Instead of reviving the country’s economy, this budget will only push it further into decline. Without even considering that this is an election period, the BJP-led Union government continues to betray Tamil Nadu. On behalf of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, we strongly condemn this.”

“There is not a single major project for Tamil Nadu. There are no announcements even for electoral purposes. In railway corridor development, ‘Chennai–Hyderabad’ and ‘Chennai–Bengaluru’ have been mentioned, but there are no railway projects within Tamil Nadu itself.”

Union Budget 2026

“The recommendation of the 16th Finance Commission to continue the states’ share of tax revenue at 41 percent has caused great disappointment to Tamil Nadu and other states. There are no concessions in personal income tax. The value of the rupee has fallen to unprecedented levels. Economic inequality among the people has increased sharply over the past decade.”

Thirumavalavan’s criticism

“The Modi government has so far failed to enter into a trade agreement with the US to counter America’s tax-related economic pressure. The 100-day employment scheme, created to protect crores of rural poor, has also been diluted by the Modi government. It was expected that this budget would address these issues, but instead, it has delivered a massive disappointment.”

Make in India

“Unemployment has increased alarmingly. Graduates under the Modi government are unable to find jobs suited to their qualifications and are forced to wander as ‘gig’ workers. The ‘Make in India’ programme, announced with much fanfare when the Modi government came to power, has turned out to be a major failure. It promised to raise manufacturing’s share of GDP to 25 percent and create 100 million jobs.”

Neglect of Tamil Nadu

“Even after ten years of implementing this programme, the manufacturing sector’s share of GDP has not crossed 15 to 17 percent. Though the Modi government promised to create 2 crore jobs per year, it has failed to generate even 2 crore jobs in total in the organised sector over the past 12 years. There are no announcements in this budget to create employment.”

MSME sector

“The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, which has the potential to generate large-scale employment, has been severely affected by the Modi government’s economic policies. As a result, around 70,000 small and medium industrial units have shut down between 2021 and 2025. Workers dependent on the unorganised sector have been pushed into severe distress. With existing labour protection laws having been scrapped by the Modi government, they have been left without any safeguards.”