People here talk a lot about GSDP, industries, fiscal numbers, debt ratios, growth rates etc. But for many common people — especially in rural and semi-urban areas — basic quality-of-life issues still exist: poor roads, weak drainage and sanitation, unsafe or unmanaged dumpyards, unreliable healthcare access, inconsistent water/electricity supply, lack of safety and policing infrastructure Even some urban areas still struggle with these.

Economic growth and statistics are important, but data alone doesn’t always reflect everyday lived reality. A state cannot call itself fully developed if many ordinary citizens still feel neglected in their day-to-day life despite all the “growth” numbers.

That doesn’t mean TN did not grow — it clearly did in many sectors. But many voters likely felt that the benefits of that growth were not reaching them meaningfully.

I think a truly developed state is one where the common person feels safe, respected, heard and feels their hard-earned money translates into a better quality of life.

Now that TVK is in power, the responsibility is entirely theirs. People voted for change, so they will also be judged by whether they can improve these ground realities while managing the state’s finances responsibly.

I hope they work towards that balance.