Edappadi K. Palaniswami. File

| Photo Credit: E. Lakshmi Narayanan

A day after Tamil Nadu government under Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced crop loan waiver, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, on Tuesday (May 26, 2026), criticised the move contending it was “scientific deception.”Alleging that the crop loan waiver was an attempt to divert attention from deteriorating law and order situation and charges of horse trade, Mr. Palaniswami charged that the TVK-led government failed in waiving farm loans properly.Recalling that crop loans up to ₹12,110 crore were waived off to benefit over 16.43 lakh farmers in 2021, Mr. Palaniswami said the TVK, in its election manifesto, assured to completely waive off loans of farmers who held up to 5 acre of land. But now, instead of using land as the criterion (for crop loan waiver), the government has considered money as the yardstick, engaging in the biggest deception.“As someone who held the plough and tilled the land, I say, the government which deceived the farmers, has never continued in power. Do not deceive the farmers,” Mr. Palaniswami said.Would join farmers to hold protests: BJPBJP State unit president Nainar Nagenthran, on Tuesday, also criticised the TVK-led government of having betrayed the farmers by restricting the crop loan waiver only to benefit certain sections of the farmers.“Is it not a betrayal to waive off crop loans only up to ₹50,000, when you promised to fully waive off loans of farmers who have up to five acres of land,” asked Mr. Nagenthran in a social media post. He also charged that the TVK-led government had similarly deceived people by placing conditions while granting 200 units of free electricity bimonthly by restricting it only to consumers whose consumption is up to 500 units.Mr. Nagenthran said that this was yet another proof that 99% of the assurances made by Mr. Vijay’s could not be fulfilled and further criticised whether this was the ‘change’ the TVK aspired to bring about. Insisting that the TVK-led government under Mr. Vijay should completely waive off loans of farmers who held up to five acres of land, Mr. Nagenthran said if not, the BJP would join affected farmers to hold protests. Published - May 26, 2026 01:45 pm IST