Published Jun 18, 2026 | 11:04 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 18, 2026 | 11:04 AM
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
Synopsis: Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar said that the state government will conduct a Social Justice Survey soon after the Union government completes the caste enumeration exercise as part of the ongoing Census. He made the announcement while addressing the first session of Tamil Nadu’s 17th Legislative Assembly.
Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Thursday, 18 June, said that the state government will conduct a Social Justice Survey soon after the Union government completes the caste enumeration exercise as part of the ongoing Census.
He made the announcement while addressing the first session of Tamil Nadu’s 17th Legislative Assembly, outlining the priorities of the newly elected Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
“It is a fundamental policy of this government that true social justice lies in every community getting due representation. To fulfil this policy and promise, we will urge the Union government to swiftly complete the caste enumeration in conjunction with the ongoing Population Census. After the Union government completes the caste enumeration, the government of Tamil Nadu will conduct the Social Justice Survey,” he said.
Meanwhile, a major portion of the speech strongly criticised the Union government, particularly over financial devolution to states. The government announced that a resolution would soon be passed in the Assembly demanding Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of taxes contributed to the Union government.
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It also said a Special Legal Committee would be constituted to pursue the issue up to the Supreme Court and that a report exposing the Union Government’s “discriminatory approach” towards Tamil Nadu in fund allocation would be published.
The address also stated that Chief Minister Vijay had repeatedly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government to approve long-pending demands of Tamil Nadu, including the Centre for Air Borne Systems (CABS) near Hosur, stopping Karnataka’s Mekedatu dam project, securing release of Tamil Nadu fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka, infrastructure funding, metro rail approvals for Hosur, Coimbatore, and Madurai, and establishment of institutions of national importance in the state.
The speech expressed hope that the Union government would finally respond positively.
The government also directly attacked the previous DMK-led Tamil Nadu administration, accusing it of severe fiscal mismanagement. According to the speech, state debt had nearly doubled in the last five years to ₹10 lakh crore, pushing the debt burden to more than ₹1 lakh per citizen.
Revenue deficit, the government said, increased sharply from ₹48,840 crore in 2024-25 to ₹78,324 crore in 2025-26, while systematic corruption and revenue leakages had weakened state finances.
The address further blamed the previous government for failing to control the spread of drug culture in Tamil Nadu, saying inaction had led to a deterioration in law and order. It also accused the earlier regime of allowing corruption in mining operations and large-scale leakage of revenue from mineral resources.
Positioning itself as a government focused on reform, the new administration said it had already begun corrective measures to restore finances, curb corruption, strengthen state rights, and push aggressively for Tamil Nadu’s demands before the Union Government.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
