Annamalai counters Chidambaram

In a sharp rebuttal to former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai on Monday defended the Narendra Modi-led government’s economic policies, particularly its strides in infrastructure and digital growth. Responding to Chidambaram’s criticism of the railway budget and digital economy, Annamalai remarked, “This might be a bitter pill for Chidambaram, who once dismissed digital payments in rural India. The success of India’s digital economy is a testament to visionary leadership and bold reforms.” Citing India’s GDP growth under Modi, Annamalai highlighted that the country’s economy has neared the $4 trillion mark. He pointed out that while it took Congress 60 years to reach the $1 trillion milestone in 2007, the current administration has propelled rapid economic expansion. Defending railway allocations, Annamalai contrasted the Rs 900 crore average annual railway budget Tamil Nadu received between 2009-2014 with the Rs 6,626 crore allocation for FY 2025–26, a 20% compounded annual growth rate. He also emphasized the increase in capital expenditure for Indian Railways from Rs 45,980 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 2.6 lakh crore today. Further, he highlighted the significant rise in central devolution and grants to Tamil Nadu, soaring from Rs 1.52 lakh crore during the UPA era to over Rs 6.21 lakh crore under Modi—an increase of 307%. The state’s annual receipts from the Centre also jumped from Rs 15,853 crore in 2013–14 to Rs 52,491 crore in 2024–25. Taking a swipe at the Congress-led UPA government’s modest increase in states’ share of the divisible pool from 30.5% to 32%, Annamalai lauded the Modi administration’s jump to 42%, calling it a “slow clap-worthy generosity.”