TMC Criticizes BJP's ‘Kursi Bachao’ Budget Favoring Bihar and Andhra Pradesh

The Trinamool Congress criticized the Union Budget for favoring key NDA allies Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, accusing BJP of bribing coalition partners. TMC and Shiv Sena leaders highlighted the neglect of states like Maharashtra and West Bengal, questioning BJP's motives and economic priorities.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the Union Budget’s special packages for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, states governed by key allies of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In a social media post on 'X', the ruling party in West Bengal shared a graphic depicting Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with the caption, ‘The ANDhra BihAr Finance Minister,' emphasizing the letters N, D, and A in uppercase.

Labeling it a desperate move to retain power, TMC's General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee criticized the BJP for neglecting pressing issues like unemployment and inflation, accusing them of crafting a budget to 'bribe' coalition partners. He described the budget as a 'complete failure' presented by a 'failed finance minister of a failed government'. Similarly, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray questioned the lack of substantial allocations for Maharashtra, which he noted is the country's largest taxpayer.

Thackeray accused the BJP of punishing Maharashtra despite its significant contributions, suggesting the state has only faced corruption and exploitation since the BJP's controversial rise to power there. TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee echoed these sentiments, dismissing the budget as a 'kursi bachao' strategy aimed at securing the ruling party's political base by appeasing allies like Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced major infrastructural and financial support for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh during her Budget speech, outlining projects like the development of an industrial node at Gaya and road connectivity projects worth Rs 26,000 crore. Andhra Pradesh also received financial backing under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, with Rs 15,000 crore allocated for the current fiscal year and promises for additional amounts in the future.

Presented on Tuesday, this is the first Union Budget of the Modi 3.0 government and the seventh consecutive budget delivered by Finance Minister Sitharaman. The budget session of Parliament commenced on July 22 and is scheduled to conclude on August 12.