‘Politically driven’, ‘made for Bihar’: Opposition on Budget 2025

Feb 1, 2025 - 16:30

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Opposition parties on Saturday described the Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as politically driven and claimed that it catered only to the needs of Bihar in view of the Assembly elections in the state.

The polls in Bihar are expected to take place in October or November. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is part of the coalition government in the state along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United).

In her Budget, Sitharaman proposed constructing new airports in Bihar and expanding the capacity of the one in Patna. She also said that the Centre will provide financial support for the Western Kosi Canal, an irrigation project in the Kosi river basin, among several other proposals.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said that Bihar appeared to have been given a “bonanza of announcements” in the Budget.

“It is natural since elections are due there later in the year,” the Rajya Sabha MP said on social media. “But why is the other pillar of the NDA [National Democratic Alliance], namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?”

Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Telugu Desam Party is also a BJP ally.

Having fallen short of the majority mark in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP formed the government at the Centre with the help of the Janata...