Pre-poll ploy to lure people, says Stalin

“It is basically very cheap budget and just to divert the people of the country. It is a tricky election manifesto. Also, it is not an interim budget, it is a full-fledged one,” Stalin said.

Welcoming the income support plan and the nil tax for income up to Rs 5 lakh, Stalin however questioned the Centre over lack of time-frame of implementation. He stated that when the farmers from Tamil Nadu staged protest demonstration at Delhi recently demanding loan waiver, the Centre said that it the issue of the state government. “Now, the announcement looks as if the Centre taking care of farmer’s issue through the Budget,” he said adding the announcement to deposit cash in the bank accounts of farmers before March 31, is made keeping an eye on the upcoming elections.

MDMK leader Vaiko called it a bag of worthless announcements.

AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran slammed the Budget as a paper flower that has failed to assure jobs and projects.