Stalin, EPS on same page, ask why TN being ignored

THE two Dravidian majors the ruling DMK and principal opposition AIADMK - struck the same note on Saturday in their attack on the BJP-led union government, both alleging that Tamil Nadu was ignored in the union budget.

- T MURUGANANDHAM

Chief Minister MK Stalin questioned the need to call it the "union" budget if funds and schemes are to be announced only for states where polls are imminent or where BJP or its allies are in power.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said, considering the forthcoming elections in Bihar, many developmental schemes have been announced only for that state.

"Instead of calling this a union budget, it is better to call it the budget for Bihar since there are no special schemes for states like TN," he added.

On X, Stalin said despite the state placing numerous demands, the union government did not find it fit to include even one of them. "Does the union budget always mean betrayal to TN? Even the name Tamil Nadu does not find a mention in it regularly," he said.