Tamil Nadu Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, called on the state government to urgently appoint a full-time Agriculture Secretary, warning that the prolonged vacancy was compounding farmers' anxieties as the monsoon season approaches. The demand comes over a month after the previous incumbent was transferred to a different role, leaving the department without dedicated administrative leadership.

The Vacancy at the Centre of the Row

According to Udhayanidhi, Shankar, IAS, who served as Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, was transferred to the post of Commissioner of Archaeology roughly a month ago. Despite the passage of time, the state government has not named a full-time successor to the critical post.

Udhayanidhi argued that leaving a department — one that carries a separate dedicated budget — without a permanent head was administratively indefensible. He alleged that both the Agriculture Minister and the Chief Minister had been occupied with 'other work' and had failed to treat the vacancy as the urgent matter it represents.

Farmers' Distress on the Ground

The Opposition leader cited multiple incidents of farmer unrest to underscore the urgency. On Monday, farmers reportedly blocked a road in Muthupettai, alleging that irrigation water had not reached tail-end agricultural areas. Separately, farmers entered Veeranam Lake in protest, demanding the immediate release of water for cultivation.

Udhayanidhi also pointed to disruptions affecting samba cultivation, saying that poorly coordinated government measures had aggravated difficulties caused by natural calamities. He accused the ruling government of failing to honour its election promise of crop loan waivers after assuming office.

Secretariat Siege Planned for October 14

Raising the political stakes further, Udhayanidhi noted that the Tamil Nadu farmers' union has announced plans to lay siege to the Secretariat in Chennai on 14 October, demanding a complete waiver of crop loans as promised in the election manifesto. He said the planned protest reflected the depth of frustration among farming communities across the state.

He described the department as being run by an 'inactive minister and an absent secretary' — a formulation that drew a sharp contrast between the administration's stated priority of agricultural welfare and what he characterised as its actual conduct.

What the Opposition Is Asking For

Udhayanidhi urged the government to immediately appoint an experienced, senior IAS officer as full-time Agriculture Secretary, arguing that stable leadership was essential for district-level coordination, timely decision-making, and continuous monitoring of agricultural operations — particularly with the monsoon approaching. He said the delay reflected a structural lack of concern for the farming community rather than a routine administrative gap.

The state government had not issued an official response to the demands as of Tuesday evening.