CM Vijay Faces Pressure Over Unfulfilled Crop‑Loan Waiver Promise

Chennai – Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is under mounting pressure after opposition stalwart Udayanidhi Stalin alleged that the government has not acted on its promise to cancel crop loans for small farmers. The claim was made during a session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Udayanidhi highlighted that Vijay campaigned on a pledge to relieve indebtedness for cultivators holding up to five acres of land. Despite the pledge, the opposition says no concrete measures have been disclosed, leaving many farmers awaiting relief.

The criticism coincided with Agriculture Minister R. Vinod’s presentation of the state's first agricultural budget. While the budget outlined investments in irrigation, seed distribution, and farmer welfare, Udayanidhi argued that the document fell short on two pivotal fronts: a definitive crop‑loan waiver framework and a transparent plan for Cauvery water sharing.

He also accused the ruling party of merely re‑branding initiatives launched by the preceding DMK administration, suggesting a lack of genuine innovation.

On the Cauvery front, Udayanidhi asserted that Karnataka has failed to release the expected water volume and has taken a clear position against further releases. He referenced a recent communication in which Karnataka’s chief minister advised the CM to abandon a proposed visit, underscoring the difficulty of securing additional water.

The opposition has submitted a letter to the assembly speaker, requesting permission to introduce an urgent motion on Friday to debate farmer issues and push for a bipartisan dialogue on the Cauvery water dispute.