Stalin to attend Niti Aayog meet, sparks political row

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is all set to attend the Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting in New Delhi for the first time since taking office in 2021. His decision to join the meeting - after repeatedly boycotting previous ones - has stirred intense political debate back home.

The move comes at a time when Tamil Nadu has accused the central government of withholding funds for critical schemes like the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). Stalin says his goal is to demand what is rightfully owed to the state.

But the timing has raised eyebrows, especially among opposition leaders like Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), who claims the visit has more to do with damage control than governance.

Earlier boycotts

Stalin had previously boycotted Niti Aayog meetings, including the one in July 2023, accusing the Centre of neglecting Tamil Nadu in the Union Budget. His decision to attend now signals a shift in strategy, perhaps compelled by the financial stress his government is facing.

Stalin declared with a post on X, “My Delhi visit is meant to demand fair financial entitlements for Tamil Nadu, including withheld funds for schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan.”

Also Read: Why is Stalin going to Delhi for NITI Aayog meet? EPS wants to know

However, EPS has been quick to frame the trip as politically-motivated, hinting at the recent Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into the TASMAC liquor scam involving DMK leaders and Stalin’s relatives.

Opposition turns up heat

EPS alleged, “Stalin is waving a white flag to appease the Centre, especially after his family members came under the ED scanner.”

He went further, calling Stalin’s actions “misplaced priorities” and accusing the DMK government of “running like a headless chicken”. EPS criticised the timing of Stalin’s Supreme Court petition over SSA funds, questioning why it wasn’t filed earlier if the issue was indeed so urgent.

Also Read: Karnataka, Kerala CMs to skip today’s NITI Aayog meet in Delhi

“In its own budget, the state said it would bear over ₹2,000 crore. The case was filed just to create a narrative,” EPS said, adding, “Will Stalin be able to answer whether Tamil Nadu’s minority institutions comply with the Right to Education Act?”

Stalin fires back

Stalin did not hold back in his response. Calling EPS a hypocrite, he said, “Why does it pain the leader of the opposition who has kept his habit of keeping his feet under the table? I will always carry the flag of freedom. I will not crawl away.”

He also accused the Centre of “blackmailing” the state by linking fund releases to controversial policies like the National Education Policy (NEP), the Three-Language Policy, and the PM’s preschool scheme - all of which Tamil Nadu has opposed.

The CM reiterated that Tamil Nadu has filed a case in the Supreme Court for the release of ₹2,152 crore in SSA funds for 2024–2025.

Also Read: 'Ayogya body': Congress slams NITI Aayog meeting as exercise in 'hypocrisy, diversion'

Election backdrop

This political slugfest unfolds less than a year before the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, adding weight to every action and word. As Stalin prepares to confront the Centre at the Niti Aayog meeting, the key question remains: Will his efforts translate into real financial relief for Tamil Nadu or play into the hands of political opponents calling it a desperate gambit?

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