Karaikudi: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, who cast his vote in Karaikudi during the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, met with members of the press and expressed confidence that the Secular Progressive Alliance would once again emerge victorious.
Confidence in DMK-Led alliance
Speaking to reporters, Chidambaram stated, “I have full confidence that the people of Tamil Nadu will once again ensure the victory of the Secular Progressive Alliance. This is because, across the entire state, three key demands are resonating: a stable government, development, and welfare schemes for the people. The DMK government—which has delivered exceptionally well on these three fronts over the past five years—will undoubtedly form the government once again.”
On bborrowing and fiscal management
Responding to criticism regarding state borrowing, Chidambaram said, “Borrowing is a practice applicable to all nations; even superpowers like the United States and China take out loans. There is nothing wrong with borrowing, provided there is sufficient revenue to service the debt. With competent ministers and officials at the helm, no budgetary complications will arise.”
Welfare schemes are universal basic income, not freebies
The former Union Minister strongly refuted the characterization of government welfare initiatives as “freebies.” He stated, “The welfare schemes provided by the government are not ‘freebies.’ Rather, they constitute a component of the concept of ‘Universal Basic Income.’ Through initiatives such as the ‘Vidiyal Payanam’ scheme, the ‘Women’s Rights Assistance’ scheme, and the ‘Pudhumai Penn’ scheme, the government ensures a minimum income for all citizens. This serves as a stepping stone toward the economic upliftment of the people; it is not merely a handout.”
“A stable and strong government will certainly manage its fiscal affairs responsibly. There is no error in borrowing; all nations engage in it—Tamil Nadu is not alone in this regard. I refute the characterization of these initiatives as ‘freebies.’ They align with the global concept of Universal Basic Income, aiming to ensure that every individual across Tamil Nadu possesses a basic level of income,” Chidambaram added.