With assembly elections looming, Tamil Nadu’s legislative leaders have opted to prolong the interim budget session through February 20. Speaker M. Appavu presided over the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) that sealed this timeline, ensuring ample time for fiscal scrutiny.
The week kicked off dynamically as Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu laid out the interim budget for FY 2026-27, a document laced with political implications given the electoral context.
Not resting there, Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam followed suit with the agriculture budget, detailing ambitions to fortify infrastructure, amplify irrigation aid, accelerate farm mechanization, and amplify welfare measures for the agrarian community.
A staple under DMK governance, this dedicated agri-budget signals sustained rural focus. The BAC then charted the path forward: general discussions spanning February 18-19, where alliances and adversaries will dissect budgets on fiscal prudence, scheme funding, and pre-poll pledges.
Debates are set to illuminate governance strengths and vulnerabilities, prioritizing scheme continuity over innovations to maintain stability. By session’s end on February 20, the ruling dispensation will have a platform to reinforce its economic narrative, pivotal in the run-up to votes.