New Delhi: The Union Budget 2026-27 drew sharp political reactions on Sunday, with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor slamming it as having “missed the ball” using a cricketing analogy, while West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and others voiced strong dissent. Presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman amid expectations of bold reforms for Viksit Bharat, the Budget faced flak for inadequate rural relief, job creation, and consumption boosts despite a hefty ₹12.2 lakh crore capex push.
Tharoor, in a pointed critique on X, likened the Budget to a “wayward bouncer” that failed to address core economic challenges like inflation and unemployment. “The FM seems to have missed the ball entirely—another googly past the stumps on middle-class woes and farm distress,” he posted, questioning the 4.3% fiscal deficit target amid global tariff threats from President Trump’s policies. He highlighted the irony of high infrastructure spends without matching social sector allocations, calling it “fiscal prudence at the cost of people.”
Mamata Banerjee labeled it a “betrayal of federalism,” accusing the Centre of slashing states’ shares while prioritizing “glitzy projects” like high-speed rails over flood-hit Bengal’s needs. “This is anti-poor, anti-farmer—where’s the MNREGA hike or real farm loan waivers?” she demanded at a Kolkata rally, vowing TMC protests. Trinamool leaders echoed her, slamming underutilized schemes like PMAY and Jal Jeevan as evidence of hollow promises.
Other opposition heavyweights also criticised the Budget. Rahul Gandhi called it “a rich man’s Budget,” ignoring youth skilling and MSME credit amid slowing exports. CPI(M)’s Brinda Karat critiqued stagnant social spending—Jal Jeevan at ₹17,000 crore versus ₹67,000 budgeted—flagging inequality gaps. “Viksit Bharat for whom? The top 1%?” she quipped.
On the NDA side, BJP hailed PM Modi’s vision, with Amit Shah terming it “historic” for semiconductors, nuclear tech, and Purvodaya corridors boosting Bihar-Odisha growth. Industry welcomed tax tweaks like TCS cuts and EV duty exemptions, with CII’s Chandrajit Banerjee noting MSME credit guarantees up to ₹10 crore as “timely relief.” Markets reacted positively, Sensex up 450 points.
