Chennai, Feb 1 (NationPress) Describing the Union Budget for 2026–27 as a document “lacking vision and change”, DMK Parliamentary Party leader Kanimozhi and CPI-M leader and Madurai MP Su Venkatesan fiercely criticized the BJP-led Union government on Sunday. They accused it of neglecting states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala as they approach Assembly elections while presenting the Union Budget 2026-27.

During the presentation of the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, there were high hopes for significant announcements due to the impending Assembly elections in several states, including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala. Nevertheless, opposition leaders claimed that the Budget fell short of offering any substantial proposals for these regions.

In a post on X, Kanimozhi referred to the Budget as a “disappointment devoid of change”.

In another update, she stated that “even elections could not compel the BJP government at the Centre to acknowledge Tamil Nadu,” suggesting a deliberate oversight of the state despite its vital role in the national economy.

Su Venkatesan echoed this sentiment, asserting that the Budget was crafted not to aid Tamil Nadu but to exploit its natural resources. The CPI-M MP labeled it “the worst Budget presented by Nirmala Sitharaman,” emphasizing that it illustrated the Centre’s ongoing disregard for the needs of southern states.

Venkatesan pointed out that while the Budget proposed the development of seven high-speed rail corridors linking major cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, it failed to address long-standing projects such as the Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rail schemes. He also condemned the lack of new infrastructure initiatives for Tamil Nadu and Kerala, despite persistent demands.

He expressed alarm over the Centre’s plan to set up special economic corridors for the extraction of rare earth minerals in resource-rich states like Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

According to Venkatesan, these announcements equate to “resource extraction without equitable returns,” compromising the rights of states over their mineral wealth.

He accused the Union government of undermining state authority in mineral auctions while failing to offer any financial advantages. Furthermore, Venkatesan criticized the Budget for neglecting Siddha medicine, even as it proposed initiatives related to Ayurveda, and omitting Keezhadi from its archaeology-related plans. “There is no commitment to the welfare or development of the people. This Budget is deceptive on all counts,” he asserted.

Both leaders concluded that the Budget was devoid of any positive, people-oriented measures, accusing the Centre of favoring political dominance over cooperative federalism.