Kerala MPs Criticize Budget 2025-26 Except Suresh Gopi
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Synopsis
On February 1, Kerala MPs, excluding BJP's Suresh Gopi, condemned the 2025-26 budget presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, expressing disappointment over its lack of provisions for the state and its focus on political gains for upcoming elections.
Key Takeaways
- All Kerala MPs, except Suresh Gopi, criticized the budget.
- The budget raised income tax exemption to Rs 12 lakh.
- There are no provisions for agriculture or infrastructure projects in Kerala.
- Concerns were raised over the budget being politically motivated.
- Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal highlighted Kerala's inadequate financial allocation.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 1 (NationPress) Aside from the solitary BJP MP and Union Minister Suresh Gopi, every other Member of Parliament from Kerala criticized the second budget of the third Narendra Modi administration, unveiled by Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday.
Kerala is represented by 20 Lok Sabha members and 9 Rajya Sabha members, with all except Gopi belonging to the Congress-led United Democratic Front or the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front.
While all the MPs acknowledged the increase of the exemption ceiling to Rs 12 lakh for individuals in the annual income category who will now be exempt from income tax, the remainder of the Budget 2025-26 faced criticism.
Senior RSP MP N.K. Premachandran remarked that although the rise in the annual income tax exemption to Rs 12 lakh is a positive development, there is little else to celebrate. "One must realize that there’s nothing to celebrate, not just for Kerala but for all southern states. The agriculture sector in the country has been entirely neglected," Premachandran stated.
CPI-M Rajya Sabha member John Brittas noted that during Sitharaman's previous budget presentation, Gopi was the most vocal, asserting that Kerala would need to wait for the next budget, which has now been delivered yet offers nothing for the state.
"Everyone is talking about the increase in the income tax limit, which benefits merely 2 percent of the populace, so what provisions exist for the rest? It’s quite disappointing," he added.
Veteran IUML MP E.T. Mohammed Basheer criticized the lack of equitable wealth distribution, stating, "Kerala has been completely overlooked, with no national institutions established here. This is merely a political budget."
Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan remarked that it is evident this budget has been crafted with the upcoming Bihar elections in mind, leaving Kerala sidelined.
Kerala's Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal expressed that there is no real difference from previous budgets issued by the PM Narendra Modi. "We anticipated certain fundamental provisions for Kerala, such as a special package... The Wayanad landslide package was expected, yet there is nothing. No reference to Vizhinjam Port is found. Kerala has not received its rightful share from the Centre, with only around Rs 4,000 crore allocated instead of the expected Rs 14,000 crore," he stated.
