CHENNAI: Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami called the DMK government’s budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025 a ‘mirage’ that benefits none and charged that the AIADMK regime’s welfare schemes like ‘Thalikku Thangam’ and green housing were scrapped.

The financial resources meant for such initiatives were being used for schemes newly named by the DMK regime.

This is the fourth budget of the DMK regime, it is a mere jugglery of words. There are no welfare schemes for the people or development plans despite generating more revenues by increasing taxes than the AIADMK regime had, Palaniswami told journalists.

Referring to the outstanding debt of Rs 8,33,361 crore at the end of the year 2024-2025, he said the state is ranked Number One in borrowing. He continued in the same vein and ridiculed that the DMK government’s announcement of procuring 3,000 buses and 500 electric buses would remain on paper and it is the style of functioning of the “Dravidian Model” government.

Taking strong exception to his “dream budget” remark and allegation that the DMK was running the government only by borrowing loans, Thennarasu asked EPS to read the 2011 election manifestos and said, “I am aware that you do not have time to read all that. At least read the part VIII of the manifesto. You promised to wriggle the State out of the shame of Rs 1 lakh crore debt and facilitate the progress of the state with pride. AIADMK won the election and remained in power for 10 years. Instead of bailing the citizens out of debt, the regime of Jayalalithaa, OPS and EPS imposed the shame of heavy debt on the people.”