‘The money is there’: Stalin reacts to Vijay’s first speech, says Tamil Nadu’s debt ‘fully within permissible limits’

New Delhi: Ex chief minister of tamil nadu Stalin On Sunday, he rebutted claims by his successor Vijay that the state was facing a financial crisis, claiming that Tamil Nadu’s debt was still within permissible limits.In a congratulatory post on“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the victorious Tamil Nadu leader Mr. Vijay, who has now assumed the post of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. I also welcome the proclamation signed by you immediately after assuming office,” Stalin said.“Don’t immediately start saying the government doesn’t have money. Everything is there. What is needed is the will and the ability to govern to put the money in the hands of the people,” he added.Stalin said his government had implemented several welfare schemes despite challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic, floods and what he said was neglect by the BJP-led alliance government.“You have mentioned in your first speech the accusation that the previous government left a debt of Rs 100 crore and emptied the state treasury before leaving. The debt level in Tamil Nadu is well within the permissible limits,” he said.This comes after Vijay announced that his government may release a white paper on the state’s finances to ensure transparency.“After reviewing everything, I intend to release a white paper to the people. I want my government to be a transparent government,” Vijay said in his first speech after being sworn in as chief minister.“As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, if I need to meet someone, I will not do it in secret or behind closed doors. Whatever I do, I do it with openness and transparency,” he added.Also read: TVK ends DMK-AIADMK era, actor-politician Vijay sworn in as Chief Minister of Tamil NaduIn his speech, Vijay accused the previous DMK government of leaving behind a debt burden of over Rs 1,000 crore.“Today, the situation faced by our Tamil Nadu government is something I have seen with my own eyes. The previous government stepped down after taking on a debt of over Rs 100 crore. The state treasury was completely drained before they left office,” he said.“I don’t say that for effect. People can’t understand what’s there and what’s not there until they go inside and see it with their own eyes,” he added.Vijay also vowed not to misuse public funds and said his government would prioritize education, roads, drinking water and other basic services.“Even if someone insults me, whether they are friends or enemies, 80 million people are still my people,” he said.“As I said before, I will not touch even a single paise of the people’s money,” he added.Soon after taking the oath, Vijay signed his first set of official documents, approving free electricity supply to 200 units and forming a special task force to combat drugs and ensure women’s safety.Vijay, who is often called “Thalapathy” by his supporters, attracted huge crowds during his campaign and drew comparisons with actor-turned-politician and former chief minister MG Ramachandran.Tamil Nadu has a long history of actors entering politics and Vijay’s rise has revived the memory of this tradition in the wake of the late Vijayakanth’s political journey.Although TVK only officially launched in 2024, Vijay has been involved in social work for a long time and often explores socio-political themes such as corruption and drug menace through his films.In the 2026 assembly elections, Vijay won from both Perampur and Trichidong and is expected to vacate one of the two seats.