2026 TN elections | Udhayanidhi Stalin slams BJP for not releasing funds for TN

ERODE: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Saturday charged the BJP government at the Centre with not releasing funds to the state and accused it of ‘snatching’ TN's rights.

Addressing a poll rally at Gobichettipalayam in the western Erode district, the DMK youth wing chief claimed the Centre has not released funds to the tune of Rs 3,000 crore for education.

“They (the union government) have snatched all our rights," he charged. Udhayanidhi stated that the BJP has not introduced any new schemes for Tamil Nadu.

“Even though there was no mention of the name Tamil Nadu in the Union budget", he said, adding, “It (Centre) has not assisted the state government in any way".

Claiming that the BJP government at the Centre is trying to ‘impose’ Hindi, the deputy chief minister said, “the Union government has vowed to take revenge on us".

“Therefore, people will ignore the BJP," he said, reiterating, “This election is between Tamil Nadu and Delhi". Udhayanidhi also termed the AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami as ‘slave’ of PM Narendra Modi.

Regarding the Centre's proposal for delimitation, he stated that Chief Minister MK Stalin was the first person in the country to raise his voice against the Union government's move. He claimed that it was a ‘huge victory’ for the INDIA alliance, as the bill was defeated for lack of a required majority after the opposition voted against it in the Lok Sabha.

Listing out various welfare measures implemented by the DMK government, he said the existing ‘Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai’ (monthly financial assistance for women) will be doubled to Rs 2,000 if DMK is voted to power again.

The deputy chief minister charged that the BJP and AIADMK have tried to stall it by moving the court. “At present, more than 1.3 crore women have benefited from the scheme," he said.

“Similarly, the breakfast scheme for the government school students will be extended till Class VIII," he said, adding, “more than 35 lakh college students across the state will be getting free laptops once the DMK government is formed".

Udhayanidhi also pointed out the ‘Illatharasi’ poll promise, providing Rs 8,000 worth of coupons to non-income tax-paying women, where they could buy or replace any household appliances of their choice.

Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.