Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has questioned whether the Centre will make concrete announcements for the state in the forthcoming Union Budget 2026, considering the upcoming elections.
In a post on X, Stalin outlined several key demands. He asked if the Budget would include a Rs 3,548 crore education fund to support students who have been detained and not promoted, funding for the Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail projects, Rs 3,112 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission, which Tamil Nadu is implementing effectively, new railway projects, and a 50% share of the Centre’s tax revenue for states, as recommended by the Finance Commission.
His post stated: “UnionBudget2026: Will the following announcements for Tamil Nadu be included, even if it’s with the usual Thirukkural quotes, keeping the elections in mind? The 3,548 crore rupees education fund for the studies of students who have been detained and held back without promotion. Coimbatore, Madurai Metro Rail. 3,112 crore rupees funding for the #JalJeevan scheme, which Tamil Nadu is implementing particularly effectively. New railway projects. 50% financial sharing to states of the central government’s tax revenue, as recommended by the Finance Commission.”
Stalin mentioned there were more demands and expressed hope that this time announcements for Tamil Nadu would be made without fail. He emphasised that these should not remain mere promises, citing the Madurai AIIMS project as an example, and called for projects to be implemented within stipulated timelines with appropriate budgetary allocation.
He added: “There’s even more on the list. Keeping the elections in mind, we hope that this time the announcements for Tamil Nadu will be made without fail. We also demand that they not end up as mere announcements like the Madurai #AIIMS, but be implemented within the stipulated time with proper budgetary allocation.”
Meanwhile, DMK MP Kanimozhi said the Centre would have to allocate substantial funds to Tamil Nadu with elections approaching. She told reporters, “They will have to give a lot of funds to Tamil Nadu, actually with the elections in close quarters, I hope they do something for Tamil Nadu.” Tamil Nadu is scheduled to hold elections in the first half of this year.
In related news, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made history by presenting her ninth consecutive Union Budget, becoming the first Finance Minister in India to deliver nine consecutive budgets, surpassing her own previous record.