Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Panneerselvam Delivers 196 Minute Budget Speech; DMK Alleges AIDMK Copying Centre

Tamil Nadu deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who also holds the Finance portfolio in the incumbent AIADMK government, presented his government’s last full-fledged budget on Friday (14 February), reports Outlook India.

The budget address went on for about 196 minutes topping the 159 minutes budget speech by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman just a fortnight ago.

DMK president M K Stalin was quick to criticise Panneerselvam, saying that the budget proposals lacked both vision and schemes for growth.

He also drew parallels between the lengthy budget addresses by FM Sitharaman and Deputy CM Panneerselvam allegeing that the ruling AIADMK was "following" the Central government.

"This itself is an example that this regime is following the Central BJP government," he reportedly said reporters.

He further adds, “It is deficit budget. There is no adequate (initiatives) for anyone."