Leaders from election-bound Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on Sunday sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026-27, accusing the Centre of overlooking their states, while Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the proposals, calling the Budget reform-oriented and beneficial for the eastern region.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget did not feature major state-specific announcements for the poll-bound regions, though it included proposals such as high-speed rail links connected to Chennai, an ecologically sustainable mountain trail at Podhigai Malai in the Western Ghats, a rare-earth minerals corridor in southern states, and an integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor with a node at Durgapur.
For the northeast, Sitharaman announced the establishment of a National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) in Assam and allocated ₹6,812 crore for the region’s development. A new dedicated freight corridor linking Dankuni in West Bengal with Surat in Gujarat and tourism initiatives under the Centre’s Purvodaya vision were also proposed.
West Bengal lambasts govt over Budget
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee described the Budget as “directionless and visionless”, alleging that it offered nothing concrete for the state.
“This Budget is directionless, visionless, actionless and anti-people… There is nothing on offer for Bengal,” she said in Kolkata, accusing the Centre of merely repeating previously announced infrastructure projects.
TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said West Bengal was not mentioned even once in Sitharaman’s speech and accused the BJP of branding people from the state as “Bangladeshis”.
Also read: Key Budget takeaways for a Viksit Bharat
Kerala sees ‘continued neglect’
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the Budget exposed the Centre’s “continued discrimination” against the state. He said long-standing demands, including an AIIMS, railway development corridors and a special package for Vizhinjam port, were ignored.
Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan expressed scepticism about the rare-earth corridor, warning against corporate exploitation of Kerala’s natural resources.
Tamil Nadu divided
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin termed the Budget “hugely disappointing”, saying it ignored the interests of the poor, farmers, women and marginalised communities in the state.
In contrast, AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami welcomed the Budget, saying initiatives such as high-speed rail links and support for textile hubs like Tiruppur and Karur would benefit Tamil Nadu.
Assam welcomes Budget
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed the Budget as balancing India’s global ambitions with grassroots development.
“The entire eastern region, including Assam, will benefit meaningfully,” he said, praising the emphasis on fiscal discipline and price stability.
West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry are scheduled to go to Assembly polls in the coming months.
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