Tamil Nadu government to present 2025-2026 Budget on March 14

CHENNAI: State finance minister Thangam Thennarasu will present the budget for the 2025-26 financial year at the assembly hall in the state Secretariat here on March 14, Speaker M Appavu told reporters at the assembly Secretariat on Tuesday.

The business advisory committee of the House will meet later that afternoon to decide the duration of the session. Supplementary budget for the year will be presented the following Friday, on March 21, Appavu said.

The Budget session of the state Assembly is likely to be a stormy one, considering the prevailing political climate in the state. While the DMK-led ruling alliance would go on the offensive against the BJP-led union government for non-allocation and delay in the release of funds to the state, besides the imposition of the National Education Policy, the acceptance of which has been made conditional by union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to avail funds for the Samagraha Shiksha Abhiyan scheme.

The opposition AIADMK and BJP could attempt to seize the opportunity to raise the law and order situation in the state, more so in the backdrop of a spurt in crimes against women and children, mainly sexual offences.

The DMK could attempt to offset criticism of the opposition by making a few surprise announcements, most likely one related to Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (KMUT) scheme. Expectation is high among the people about a likely announcement related to the scheme after deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin publicly declared that more eligible beneficiaries will be added to the KMUT scheme in a few months.

The session could also see the tally of the DMK go up by one following the entry of VC Chandrakumar into the house again as the MLA of Erode East.