Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi – that he will be “isolated” if he continues to target rivals rather than focus on governance.

The comments by Mr Stalin – whose DMK is part of the Congress-helmed INDIA bloc that put a major dent in the BJP’s ‘abki baar, 400 paar‘ election hopes, including handing it a second successive rout in the southern state – came as opposition leaders unload on the government and the 2024 Union Budget.

“The election is over… now we have to think about the country. Budget 2024 will save your rule… but will not save the nation. Run the government objectively… otherwise you will be isolated.”

ஒன்றிய நிதிநிலை அறிக்கையில் ஒருசில மாநிலங்கள் நீங்கலாகப் பல்வேறு மாநிலங்கள் புறக்கணிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதைக் கண்டிக்கும் வகையில் #INDIA கூட்டணி எம்.பி.க்கள் போராட்டம் நடத்தியுள்ளார்கள்.

மாண்புமிகு பிரதமர் @narendramodi அவர்களே…

“தேர்தல் முடிந்துவிட்டது, இனி நாட்டைப் பற்றியே… pic.twitter.com/95xXotDQDa

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) July 24, 2024

“Don’t still be vindictive towards those who defeated you… you will be isolated if you govern according to your political likes and dislikes,” the Tamil leader said on X (formerly Twitter).

Tamil Nadu’s Beef With Budget

The 2024 Union Budget – the first of the Modi 3.0 government – was presented Tuesday, and triggered furious pushback, including claims it has ignored states ruled by non-BJP parties.

READ | Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs’ “Symbolic Walkout” Amid Budget Row

The Tamil Nadu government, for example, has said no provision has been made for infrastructure projects like the second phase of the Chennai Metro Rail and similar developments in Coimbatore.

There was also no provision, the DMK has said, for funds for restoration of flood-hit areas in Chennai and southern districts; the state asked for Rs 37,000 crore but has received only Rs 276 crore so far.

There was also no mention of special projects for the state.

This has led to a perception, shared by the AIADMK, the Tamil Nadu opposition party earlier allied with the BJP – that the state is, in fact, being ignored by Prime Minister Modi’s government.

DMK spokesperson A Saravanan pointed out Tamil Nadu “contributes 10 times (more tax, to the Indian economy) than Bihar… We are the biggest tax contributor.”

Niti Aayog Boycott

Non-BJP states’ unhappiness was underlined by four opposition chief ministers skipping Saturday’s Niti Aayog meeting. Apart from Mr Stalin, this list includes three Congress-ruled leaders – Siddaramaiah (Karnataka), Revanth Reddy (Telangana), and Sukhvinder Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh).

READ | Unhappy With Budget 2024, 4 CMs To Skip NITI Aayog Meet

The meeting is to be chaired by Mr Modi, and the absentees are being seen as a moment of acute embarrassment for the central government.

BJP’s Counter-Attack

The BJP’s state boss, K Annamalai, is leading the charge.

In a detailed post on social media, Mr Annamalai slammed the Chief Minister’s comments and action, including skipping the Niti Aayog meeting, as “ridiculous”. He also claimed Tamil Nadu had not been mentioned in six of 10 budgets presented by the Congress-led UPA I and II governments.

நமது மாண்புமிகு பாரதப் பிரதமர் திரு @narendramodi அவர்கள் தலைமையிலான மத்திய அரசு, 2024-25ஆம் ஆண்டுக்கான நிதிநிலை அறிக்கையை நேற்றைய தினம் தாக்கல் செய்துள்ளது. ஏழை எளிய மக்கள், பெண்கள், இளைஞர்கள், விவசாயிகள் என அனைத்துத் தரப்பினரும் பயனடையும்படி, வெகு சிறப்பானதாக அமைந்துள்ள இந்த… pic.twitter.com/22JEwRQ0Rj

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) July 24, 2024

“Chief Minister Stalin is trying to create an impression that no welfare schemes will be made available to states other than those named (in the Union Budget).”

“When DMK was allied with Congress for ten years, Tamil Nadu did not appear in budgets filed for six years. Will you say (in that time), centre did not provide any programs to Tamil Nadu?” he asked.

BJP’s Bihar, Andhra Pradesh Packages

Ms Sitharaman’s speech had listed packages for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, run by key BJP allies. Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu’s parties ensure the BJP is above the 272-seat majority mark.

The JDU and the TDP had each demanded special status for their states ahead of the budget. Both demands were turned down, leading to buzz one or both parties could withdraw its support.

READ | In Budget 2024, Lok Sabha Election Effect For Bihar, Andhra

That speculation was swiftly junked by senior leaders from each party, and has been silenced, for now, after Ms Sitharaman announced a slew of special packages for each state.

READ | Nirmala Sitharaman’s “Audacity” Counter To Trinamool’s Budget Charge

The Finance Minister, under fire over alleged favouritism, hit back strongly this morning, telling the opposition, in Parliament, “…in every budget, you don’t get an opportunity to name every state…”

Pointing to Maharashtra, a state the BJP rules with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s NCP factions, she said, “If my speech does not mention a state… does it mean Government of India schemes don’t go to these states?” she asked.

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The discussion on Budget 2024 in Lok Sabha today witnessed a sharp exchange between Speaker Om Birla and Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, when the latter claimed that the House did not discuss the three farm laws that were later rolled back and the Chair stressed that it did.

Mr Banerjee, MP from West Bengal’s Diamond Harbour and the Number 2 in the Mamata Banerjee-led party, said in his speech that the Centre got the agricultural bills passed “without any consultation with farmers, farmer organisations or Opposition parties”.

The Speaker intervened: “Let’s set the record straight, this House discussed the issue for five-and-a-half hours.” When Mr Banerjee stressed that no discussion took place, Mr Birla said, firmly, “When the Speaker speaks, he speaks right. You correct yourself.” The Trinamool MP stuck to his guns, prompting the Speaker to say, “When I speak, I don’t speak wrong.”

Earlier, Mr Banerjee’s address targeted the Narendra Modi government over the Budget and drew a response from the treasury benches, especially BJP MPs from Bengal.

The Trinamool general secretary said the Budget lacked “clarity of vision” and was aimed at satisfying BJP coalition partners rather than providing any relief to the country’s 140 crore people.

“This is a budget planned by two individuals to keep another two in good faith,” he said, adding that it was “planned by two, executed for two”. Mr Banerjee said the “anti-people” budget was crafted to “bribe two political parties and buy time before the government implodes”.

The Trinamool MP was referring to TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, whose support gave the BJP the required numbers to form the government after its score dropped in this general election. Opposition parties have argued that Budget 2024 was generous for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, ruled by the BJP’s key allies, but other states got nothing substantial.

Earlier today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slammed the Trinamool’s criticism of the Budget. “Yesterday, the TMC questioned the Budget, saying nothing has been given to Bengal. Let me highlight the fact that several schemes given by the Prime Minister in the last 10 years have not even been implemented in West Bengal. And you have the audacity to ask me now?” she said in Rajya Sabha.

In response, Mr Banerjee threw a challenge, daring the Finance Minister to release a white paper on how much money the Centre has given to Bengal after BJP’s defeat in the 2021 state polls.

The Trinamool MP said the Centre has withheld MGNREGA funds and lakhs of houses sanctioned under the PM Awas Yojana in Bengal are waiting central funds.

Mr Banerjee said that money that should have been used to build homes is “allocated to purchase aircraft worth Rs 8000 crore and construct palatial buildings as part of Central Vista project worth Rs 20,000 crore while poor people of this country still endure homelessness”.

At one point, Mr Birla said members must avoid commenting on those who are not members of Lok Sabha. This drew strong remarks from the Trinamool members, prompting the Speaker to respond sternly.

“I want to clarify, the Chair said we should not comment on those who are not members of this House. I want to ask you, is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a member of this House? Why did they comment? Please maintain the respect of your Chair and make them apologise. Then I will continue, you have to intervene,” he said.

The Speaker replied, “You can continue if you want, I have removed her name from the record, you cannot give directions to me.” At the end of Mr Banerjee’s speech, the Speaker appealed to all members to avoid making remarks on the Chair.