The opposition’s chorus underscores a deepening divide, with calls for parliamentary scrutiny and course correction. As debates unfold, the budget’s fate may hinge on addressing these critiques amid electoral pressures.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27 in Parliament sparked immediate and widespread condemnation from opposition parties, who described it as directionless, lacklustre, and disconnected from India’s pressing economic realities.

Presented amid assembly elections in key states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, and Assam, the budget emphasised fiscal discipline, infrastructure corridors, and a vision for ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.

However, opposition leaders across the spectrum argued it ignored unemployment, farmer distress, declining household savings, and regional disparities, while favouring corporates and the wealthy. The stock market’s sharp plunge – Sensex dropping over 1,500 points – further amplified claims of economic anxiety, with critics labelling the document a “Humpty Dumpty Budget” that offers dreams but no solutions.

The budget pegged total expenditure at Rs 53.5 lakh crore, with a fiscal deficit target of 4.3 per cent for 2026-27, down from 4.4 per cent this year. It included allocations for critical minerals, AIIMS expansions, and subsidies, but opposition figures pointed to reduced spending on welfare schemes, education, health, and subsidies for fertilizers, food, and petroleum.

Leaders from Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Left and the Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the Modi government of perpetuating inequality and undermining federalism. Even as NDA allies hailed it as growth-oriented, the opposition’s unified front set the stage for heated parliamentary debates, with Rahul Gandhi promising to address it in Lok Sabha.

Congress Slams Budget as ‘Lacklustre’ and Crisis-Blind

The Congress party led the charge, dubbing the budget “totally lacklustre” and “woefully short of hype.” Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi highlighted its failure to address core issues, stating on X: “Youth without jobs. Falling manufacturing. Investors pulling out capital. Household savings plummeting. Farmers in distress. Looming global shocks – all ignored. A Budget that refuses course correction, blind to India’s real crises.”

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed this, claiming the Modi government has “run out of ideas” and offers no solutions to economic, social, and political challenges. He criticised the absence of support for farmers, SC/ST/OBC/EWS/minority communities, and noted inequality surpassing British Raj levels.

Senior leader Jairam Ramesh called the speech “non-transparent,” lacking details on allocations for key programs. Shashi Tharoor used a cricket analogy, saying Sitharaman “seems to have missed the ball,” with nothing for the middle and lower-middle classes or states’ fiscal needs. K C Venugopal termed it a “total disappointment” for Kerala, ignoring promises like AIIMS and favouring corporates. The party’s communications head, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, said she had low expectations beforehand, reflecting broader disillusionment.

Regional Parties Cry Foul Over State Neglect and Anti-Federal Bias

Regional opposition parties focused on perceived discrimination against non-BJP states, especially those heading to polls. TMC chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee blasted the budget as “directionless, visionless, actionless, and anti-people,” claiming it offers nothing for common citizens, women, farmers, education, or SC/ST/OBC groups – and “not a single paisa” for Bengal. She accused the union government of blatant lies on economic corridors and destroying federalism by withholding GST funds.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee called it “faceless, baseless, and visionless,” alleging Bengalis are treated as “Bangladeshis.” Saugata Roy noted the repetition of old schemes with no new benefits for states like West Bengal.

In Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav deemed the budget “beyond understanding” for the poor, ignoring villages, youth, education, and health. He called it “disappointing and deplorable,” benefiting only 5 per cent of the rich while neglecting jobs and inflation relief.

MP Dimple Yadav added it has “nothing for women or youth,” reducing family interest in budgets. DMK in Tamil Nadu alleged Sitharaman gave “zero” to the state even in an election year, calling the budget “directionless” with no aim for MSMEs or other sectors. Spokesperson Constantine Ravindran said it shows the Centre’s disregard for southern states despite their contributions. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi rated it “four out of ten,” disappointing amid global uncertainties, with markets signalling failure.

RJD in Bihar, ahead of the budget, demanded special category status to combat poverty and debt, but post-presentation reactions highlighted unmet expectations for flood control and industrial packages.

AAP’s reactions were muted, though the party has historically criticized central policies on federal funding and pollution, aligning with broader opposition calls for inclusive growth.

CPI(M) Decries Anti-People, Anti-Federal Measures

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) issued a scathing critique, labelling the union budget 2026-27 as “thoroughly anti-people and anti-federal.” In a Polit Bureau statement, the party accused the government of prioritising big business and the wealthy over working people and oppressed sections. The party highlighted “fiscal discipline’ as a euphemism for tax concessions to corporates while slashing welfare expenditures.

Key criticisms included a sharp decline in tax revenues for 2025-26, unacknowledged economic crises, and stagnant anticipated revenues for 2026-27, reducing the proportion of national income. Drastic cuts were noted in schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, PM POSHAN, PM-SHRI, PM-JAY, PM-MSY, PMAY (rural and urban), and crop insurance, alongside reductions in allocations for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, North Eastern region, agriculture, rural development, education, health, social welfare, and the gender budget by Rs. 51,144 crores. Further slashes in fertilizer, food, and petroleum subsidies were described as an assault on agriculture amid deflationary conditions. Lower revised capital expenditures for 2025-26 and declining public enterprise investments were also flagged.

On the anti-federal front, CPI(M) pointed to cuts in state transfers under centrally sponsored schemes, finance commission grants, and other transfers by Rs. 2,03,801 crores in 2025-26 and an additional Rs. 59,456 crores for 2026-27, exacerbating states’ financial crunch from poor GST revenues and shifted burdens. The statement noted the finance minister’s claims of stability, fiscal discipline, growth, and moderate inflation omitted the distress of working people, rampant unemployment, and limited earnings. It argued the budget promotes inequality and aggravates the economic crisis, inadequately responding to global issues. The party urged resistance to these measures, emphasising their detrimental impact on federalism and people’s welfare.

The opposition’s chorus underscores a deepening divide, with calls for parliamentary scrutiny and course correction. As debates unfold, the budget’s fate may hinge on addressing these critiques amid electoral pressures.

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