Tamil Nadu finance minister N Marie Wilson (PTI file photo)
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu finance minister N Marie Wilson on Sunday said the state government will table an “audit report on corruption” during the upcoming Budget session, alleging that it will expose irregularities in the collection of “party funds” during the previous MK Stalin-led DMK regime.The Vijay-led cabinet’s minister made the remarks while addressing an event in Chennai’s Harbour Assembly constituency, taking a swipe at the opposition DMK over what he described as attempts to feign ignorance regarding the alleged irregularities. Though he did not name anyone directly, Wilson appeared to target former DMK minister and current Harbour MLA PK Sekar Babu.”The former minister who currently represents this constituency now is feigning ignorance about the party funds collected during the DMK rule. He has asked ‘what is party funds?’ I am constrained to react, since I am addressing my first event in Harbour constituency. We are preparing an audit report on corruption made under the pretext of raising party funds during the previous DMK rule. It will be presented in the upcoming Budget session,” Wilson said.In another apparent reference to Sekar Babu, the finance minister added, “It will contain a list of corruption made. Then, this former minister will be exposed.”Speaking at the same event, Wilson also reiterated the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government’s commitment to abolishing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). He claimed that just as Tamil Nadu witnessed a major political shift in 2026 with the TVK coming to power, a similar change would take place at the national level after the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.”There will be a permanent solution for the NEET exam. Our party (TVK) leadership is actively working on a plan to ensure that this exam will be completely abolished. This change will be visible across India,” he said while addressing a function organised to distribute commendation certificates to Class 10 and Class 12 students.When asked by reporters to elaborate on the proposed audit report, Wilson declined to share further details, saying, “wait and watch,” and indicated that chief minister Vijay would make an announcement on the matter.The first Budget of the Vijay-led TVK government will be presented in the Tamil Nadu assembly on August 5 by Wilson. The assembly’s Business Advisory Committee will meet the same day to decide the duration of the Budget session.
