CHENNAI: Leader of opposition and DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling TVK government, alleging that his recent arrest was a deliberate attempt to divert attention from key issues such as the Cauvery water dispute and the Mekedatu dam project, while dismissing the state’s maiden budget as a rebranding exercise that failed to deliver on election promises.Speaking to reporters after finance minister N Marie Wilson presented the 2026-27 budget in the Assembly, Udhayanidhi said the government had resorted to “diversionary tactics” to prevent him from raising issues concerning Tamil Nadu’s interests.“The day before yesterday, I protested against this government’s failure on these issues, and I was arrested. These are merely diversionary tactics to prevent me from raising the Cauvery and Mekedatu issues. They have also poached AIADMK MLAs. DMK’s Gen-Z cadres are being targeted and arrested. There are numerous issues under this TVK government, and they are trying to divert public attention. Law and order has also deteriorated, with five custodial deaths and six caste-based murders in the last five weeks,” he alleged.Asked about chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s silence over his detention, Udhayanidhi said, “You should ask him. He is the one who is silent.”Criticising the government’s first full-fledged budget, the DMK leader claimed it contained no new welfare measures and merely renamed schemes launched by the previous government.“There is no scheme in this budget to fulfil the promises made during the election campaign. We should thank the Finance Minister for acknowledging that Tamil Nadu ranks number one in many sectors. However, this government has simply pasted the name ‘Vetri’—which is also the name of their party—onto existing schemes,” he said.He cited the newly announced Vetri Laptop Scheme as an example, claiming it was a continuation of the DMK’s laptop distribution programme.According to Udhayanidhi, the previous government had announced the distribution of 20 lakh laptops and had already distributed 10 lakh before leaving office. He also accused the TVK government of failing to take concrete steps to stop Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project.The TVK government, however, defended the budget, describing it as a roadmap to transform Tamil Nadu into a $1.5 trillion economy by 2031, with a strong focus on education, transparency and revenue mobilisation. Key announcements included ₹300 crore for modernising 3,734 government schools, Rs 139 crore for the “Super Clean, Super Campus” initiative, the launch of the Vetri Laptop Scheme, and a phased implementation of poll promises.Finance minister Marie Wilson also said the government had introduced measures to improve transparency in tendering, curb corruption and enhance revenue generation, including a new levy on liquor manufacturers expected to generate an additional Rs 1,000 crore annually.
