For Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, praise has poured in from an unexpected quarter. A move by the superstar's government seeking to offer relief to the aviation sector has drawn appreciation from Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.
The Tamil Nadu government had yesterday cut the value added tax (VAT) on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) from 29% to 16% at Chennai airport and to 1% at other airports in the state.
-
-
Neha Goyal Makes Stunning Asian Games Gold Revelation At NDTV World Summit 2026 -
Big NDTV Summit Impact: RBI Governor's Tata Sons Listing Remark Makes Top Newspaper Headlines -
"Certainty Is A Problem": Nikhil Kamath On Marriage, Children And Future -
"High Inflation Is Like Tax On Everyone": RBI Governor At NDTV World Summit -
RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra's Big Hint On Tata Sons Listing Row At NDTV World Summit -
The Mystery Of A Bare Nail In Ashwini Vaishnaw's Office -
Paris Setback, Asian Games Glory: Lovlina Borgohain's New Perspective -
To PM Modi's "Failed Product" Jab At Rahul Gandhi, A Shashi Tharoor Counter -
'AI Scares Me': Kriti Sanon On Personality Rights And Need For Laws -
'This Time I Wanted Gold': Savita Punia Reflects On Historic Asiad Success
Rammohan Nadu hailed it as a welcome step and thanked Vijay.
READ | "Against Federalism": Actor Vijay's TVK Criticises Amit Shah's Hindi Day Remarks
"Appreciate the Tamil Nadu Government's decision to reduce VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), a welcome step for the aviation sector. Thank you to Hon'ble Chief Minister Thiru Vijay for this initiative. Making air travel more affordable requires the Centre and States to work together. Our shared priority must always be the passengers," the Union minister wrote on X.
Appreciate the Tamil Nadu Government's decision to reduce VAT on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), a welcome step for the aviation sector. Thank you to Hon'ble Chief Minister Thiru @TVKVijayHQ for this initiative. Making air travel more affordable requires the Centre and States to work together. Our shared priority must always be the passengers.
— Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (@RamMNK) October 23, 2026
Tamil Nadu's 29% VAT on aviation fuel was earlier one of the highest in the country, which forced airlines to limit refuelling in Chennai. The reduction could now make tickets cheaper, and see airlines expand their fleet schedules, and help Chennai become a prominent refuelling hub.
The changes will apply for a year from midnight on November 1, according to a government notification.
READ | "Tamil Is Our Lifeline": Vijay's Challenge Amid Centre's Vande Mataram Push
The TVK, which shares power with the Congress in Tamil Nadu, is often seen as opposed to several policies of the Centre, including the three-language policy and the row over the National Song.
Last month, Vijay had challenged the Centre's directive to play Vande Mataram first in order at government events, after the assembly passed a resolution for the Tamil song 'Tamil Thai Vazthu' to be sung first at the beginning of government events. "Giving the first place to Tamil Thai Vazthu is our right," Vijay had then said in the assembly.
The TVK has also accused the Centre of trying to impose Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking states.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
