The Union Budget has sparked mixed reactions from political parties in Madhya Pradesh. While ministers have hailed it as a visionary plan steering the country towards self-reliance, the Opposition has criticized it as highly disappointing, alleging that it offers little to the poor, farmers, and youth.
Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda described the budget as a roadmap for achieving Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Developed India. He emphasized that the decision to exempt income up to Rs 12 lakh from taxation provides significant relief to a large section of society, calling it a revolutionary step by the Modi government. Devda termed the budget as a "dream budget" for the common people, rooted in PM Modi’s "GYAN Mantra." He highlighted its focus on the welfare of the poor, youth empowerment, women's upliftment, and agricultural development. According to him, several provisions in the budget will greatly benefit Madhya Pradesh, further accelerating its progress. He stated that the budget would boost the development process, energize the private sector, and strengthen key areas such as agriculture, MSMEs, investment, and exports. He also welcomed the decision to launch a mission for self-reliance in pulse production and increase the Kisan Credit Card limit to Rs 5 lakh, which he believes will greatly support farmers.
In contrast, State Congress President Jitu Patwari criticized the Union Budget, calling it highly disappointing. He argued that while PM Modi's speech projected a vision of a prosperous India, the ground reality remains starkly different. He pointed out that farmers continue to struggle, and the rising unemployment and inflation have pushed many youths to despair. According to Patwari, the budget fails to address the critical issues faced by farmers and has left the middle class and poor deeply disappointed.
Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar also condemned the budget, claiming it was designed with an eye on the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. He alleged that special packages had been directed toward Bihar while neglecting the broader interests of the entire nation. Singhar further criticized the budget for not including discussions on guaranteeing MSP for farmers and for reducing allocations for schemes benefiting SC/ST communities. He accused the BJP government of tailoring the budget for electoral gains rather than addressing the needs of the poor and marginalized sections of society.
