TAMIL NADU

 

TAMIL NADU

Ujagar Singh, former IAS officer, TN Cadre who had contested in the 2016 assembly polls presents a comprehensive view of Tamil Nadu in the Times of India of February 25, 2026.

Water is perhaps TN’s most urgent issue. Per capita water availability is less than half the national average. Reservoir levels swing sharply between monsoons. Groundwater continues to fall. Tanker lines are a routine sight in cities. Yet, water rarely dominates election speeches the way identity issues do.

Identity issues may be elaborated as, one, DMK in govt. is sharpening its federal rights and social justice pitch., two, AIDMK is trying to rebuild its organization and three, BJP is looking to expand its footprints in a state it has always struggled. In addition smaller parties position themselves around identity, language and regional pride.

There is an important dimension added by the Supreme Court. The honorable court has noted that governments cannot rely indefinitely on freebies neglecting creation of sustainable employment. Though it was not directed at any one state, it resonated strongly in TN where welfare schemes have long been central to politics.

People across TN discuss on water, jobs, exam pressures, rising costs and uncertain incomes. Voter behavior is impacted by access to water, stable prices and constantly worrying support systems. . Nearly 56% of TN still depends on agriculture and allied activities. But the sector has struggled with erratic rainfalls, soil degradation and rising input costs.

TN contributes roughly 11-12 of India’s manufacturing output and is among the country’s most industrialized states. But parts of its industrial ecosystem are under pressure. Closure of large units in recent years has affected supply chains. The Sterlite plant used to produce nearly 4 lakh tones a year, about 35-40% of India’s copper output. Since Sterlite’s shut down in 2018, India has turned into a net importer of Copper. For thousands of small manufacturers of motors, pumps, grinders and compressors in Coimbatore, higher copper prices have raised costs.

The textile and garment industry which employs 20 lakh people across spinning, weaving and apparel units is faced with rising cotton and power costs. More than 300 textile mills have shut operations in the last five years. Export oriented clusters like Tirupur have seen orders fluctuate with global demand, forcing some units to cut shifts or delay hiring. (No wonder, neighboring  Kerala’s hotels, textile shops,  many industrial units and labor force are populated by employees belonging to TN)

The auto & auto components sector, a backbone of the state economy, is also navigating a transition as the shift towards EVs has created uncertainty for component manufacturers who depend on traditional engine parts.

Taken together these pressures cut across the economy. There are longstanding legacy issues for a sustainable balance between development and environmental protection that are to be addressed by the government. For many in TN’s industrial belts, concern is the stability of their next pay cheque.

The NEET debate remains deeply emotional here. TN has always argued that the system favours the affluent and students from CBSE schools.

Sri Lanka continues to arrest fishermen near Katchatheevu Island. Each arrest disrupts incomes and creates anxiety. For the fisher folk the issue is not geopolitical but one of livelihood.

The issues highlighted crave for resolution.

It is high time the parties In Tamil Nadu, shift the conversation from symbolism to solutions for the all round betterment of the people.