'Andhra Pradesh cruelly ignored': Congress' dig at Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget amid bonanza for Bihar

NEW DELHI: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her eighth Union Budget for 2025-26 on Friday, and the opposition was quick to point out the big bonanza for poll-bound Bihar, where Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with ally Janata Dal (United), is seeking re-election for chief minister Nitish Kumar.
With a "cruelly ignored" jibe, Congress criticised Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget alleging a bonanza of announcements for a key "pillar" of the central government [read: Nitish Kumar].The party said another ally [read: Chandrababu Naidu] was "cruelly ignored".
“Bihar appears to have got a bonanza of announcements. It is natural since elections are due there later in the year. But why is the other pillar of the NDA, namely Andhra Pradesh, been so cruelly ignored?” he wrote.

. He accused the finance minister of failing to address critical welfare policies, such as the inclusion of breakfast in schools, a glass of milk for children, and an increase in honorarium for Anganwadi workers. “The Union Education and WCD Ministries themselves have been pushing for these proposals for years, only to be turned down by the Finance Ministry. What kind of investment in people is the Finance Minister envisioning without these basic provisions?” he asked.

Ramesh also criticised the government’s decision to amend the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, claiming that the BJP had previously sabotaged it under Arun Jaitley but was now making changes to appease foreign interests
Sitharaman’s budget included several measures such as a new Income Tax bill to simplify the current system, an increase in foreign direct investment in the insurance sector to 100%, and support for India’s marine sector. She also announced initiatives like a national mission for cotton production and the establishment of a Makhana Board in Bihar.
The opposition has linked the Bihar-centric announcements to political calculations, given the upcoming elections in the state. Among the measures announced for Bihar were four new greenfield airports, the establishment of a National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management, and the expansion of infrastructure at IIT Patna. Additionally, financial support was promised for the Western Kosi Canal, benefiting 50,000 hectares in the Mithilanchal region.
This marks the second consecutive year that Bihar has received significant allocations in the Union Budget. Last year, the Centre had announced development projects worth Rs 58,900 crore, including road projects, a 2,400MW power plant, and flood management initiatives.
The finance minister also unveiled plans to establish daycare cancer centres in district hospitals, add 10,000 seats in medical colleges, and provide broadband connectivity to government secondary schools and primary healthcare centres.