Tamil Nadu Assembly session: Ruling party, AIADMK spar over credit for establishing medical colleges

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) witnessed a heated debate between the Treasury Benches and the AIADMK, the principal Opposition party, over credit for establishing medical colleges, distributing free laptops to students and the functioning of Amma Unavagams.

AIADMK MLA K.P. Munusamy, speaking during the discussion on the Interim Budget and the Agriculture Budget for 2026–27, said by ensuring smooth coordination with the Centre, his party’s erstwhile government had secured approval for establishing 11 new medical colleges in the State. He alleged the DMK government had failed to establish any medical colleges in the last four-and-a-half years.

In his response, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian said although approvals for 11 medical colleges were obtained during the AIADMK regime, the colleges were constructed and opened for admissions during the DMK regime, benefiting many students.

Mr. Munusamy said it was his party-led government that enacted legislation providing 7.5% horizontal reservation in undergraduate medical admissions for government school students who qualified in NEET. Responding to this, Mr. Subramanian said although the House passed the Bill during the AIADMK’s tenure, it was not given assent by the Governor. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who was then the Leader of the Opposition, “exerted pressure through protests”.

Taking strong objection, Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami said the Minister was making “false statements” in the House. He pointed out it was his government that invoked Article 162 of the Constitution of India and took the executive route to implement the 7.5% horizontal quota.

When Mr. Munusamy spoke about the distribution of free laptops to students, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu intervened and said the AIADMK MLA was attempting to portray the scheme as one rolled out to secure students’ votes. He denied any such intention and said the initiative was implemented with students’ welfare in mind. Both sides then argued over the timing of the scheme’s implementation, as it was introduced at the end of the academic year.

A debate over Amma Unavagams arose when AIADMK MLA S.P. Velumani raised concerns about a reduction in fund allocation to the canteens. Mr. Palaniswami said the Amma Canteen inaugurated by former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa near Foreshore Estate had been shut.

In response, Minister for Municipal Administration K.N. Nehru said adequate funds were allocated by the respective local bodies to run the canteens properly. He also said no worker appointed during the previous AIADMK regime in Amma Canteens had been removed.