Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has criticised AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) over his stance on the controversial 100-day work programme, raising questions about the opposition’s position and challenging its credibility.In a pointed remark, Stalin said that unlike EPS’s repeated assertions, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) — which guarantees 100 days of work — is not being fulfilled as intended, and this issue should be addressed rather than used for political point-scoring. He suggested that EPS had misrepresented facts related to job guarantees under the programme.
The Chief Minister also criticised the suggestion of expanding the scheme to 125 days under new frameworks, contending that when even the basic 100 days of guaranteed employment is not reliably delivered, promises of extended work with additional conditions may be misleading.
Stalin’s comments reflect growing political debate over rural employment guarantees and central-state financing of the scheme, as parties sharpen their positions ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections