Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday welcomed the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, describing it as positive, forward-looking, and focused on growth. In contrast, the Congress and other Opposition parties criticised the BJP-led central government, alleging that the budget offers little real relief to common citizens grappling with rising prices.
Fadnavis said Maharashtra is expected to receive nearly ₹1 lakh crore from the budget, calling it a significant step towards achieving the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India). He praised the emphasis on planned urban development, higher investment, and job creation. Highlighting key initiatives, the Chief Minister said the focus on women-centric schemes, construction of hostels for girls, strengthening emergency healthcare facilities in districts, and the development of high-speed transport corridors would accelerate overall growth and development.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde echoed similar views, stating that the budget would strengthen Mumbai and Maharashtra while also boosting development in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities through improved infrastructure and faster economic growth. Welcoming the focus on urbanisation, Shinde said these measures would energise local economies and generate more employment opportunities beyond major metropolitan areas.
However, the budget drew sharp criticism from Opposition leaders. Congress Mumbai president and Member of Parliament Varsha Gaikwad said that despite being India’s highest taxpayer, Maharashtra had not received adequate benefits. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also expressed disappointment, stating on social media platform X that she had expected a reform-driven budget, as promised by the Prime Minister. She added that the budget failed to present a clear long-term vision for the country.