Debt burden, revenue deficit up under DMK govt, EPS replies to minister

Joining issue with the contentions of Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu over the fiscal position and debt burden of the state government, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday said the DMK, which came to power with the promise of improving the fiscal management, has failed in all economic indicators besides increasing the debt burden as well as revenue deficit.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE Chennai/Coimbatore

Referring to the statement of Thennarasu that he (Palaniswami) lacked proper understanding about fiscal management of the state, the AIADMK chief said when the AIADMK was in power, the DMK MLAs, who are now ministers, had said efficient fiscal management signifies containing the fiscal deficit while removing the revenue deficit totally besides controlling the extent of borrowing and spending the amount borrowed on capital expenditure. Palaniswami said since 2021, the DMK government has hiked the power tariff thrice. But despite this, the government is providing additional funds to the TNEB. This shows that the fiscal management of the TNEB has been destabilised, he said.