Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, on Sunday articulated his anticipation for specific announcements benefiting Kerala in the upcoming Union Budget 2026. This expectation comes at a crucial juncture, with the southern state poised to conduct Assembly elections later this year. Speaking just before Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget presentation in Parliament, Tharoor highlighted the pressing issue of unemployment, emphasizing that "jobless growth doesn't help anyone."
Tharoor's Focus on Employment and Kerala's Prospects
"Looking forward to hearing what the Finance Minister has to tell us. The Economic Survey presents good economic growth, but a problem for young people in this country is whether the growth will be accompanied by jobs," Tharoor stated, as reported by news agency ANI. He underscored the anxiety among citizens regarding the government's proposed schemes, particularly in the context of Kerala's impending electoral process. "We are anxious to see what kind of schemes they have in mind. In Kerala, with elections coming up, we are keen to see what benefits the Central government might give us," he added, noting the difficulty in speculating until the Budget is formally unveiled.
Akhilesh Yadav's Critical Stance on Budget Expectations
In contrast to Tharoor's hopeful outlook, Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief and a key figure in the I.N.D.I.A. opposition bloc, expressed profound disappointment with the government's budgetary track record. Engaging with ANI, Yadav posed a rhetorical question: "What expectations can we have from the Budget being presented by a government from whom we don't have any expectations?" He further criticized previous budgets, asserting, "In the last few Budgets we have seen, it was for only 5% of the people. The government should assess if it has fulfilled all the promises it had made."
Budget Presentation Preparations Underway
As political leaders shared their perspectives, the stage was set for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's much-anticipated Budget speech. Sitharaman arrived at Parliament accompanied by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, Chief Economic Advisor Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Ravi Agarwal, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Finance. The speech, scheduled to commence at 11 am IST in the Lok Sabha, marks Sitharaman's ninth consecutive Budget presentation, a testament to her enduring role in shaping India's fiscal policy.
Legislative Proceedings and Financial Proposals
According to the day's List of Business, Finance Minister Sitharaman is also slated to move for leave to introduce the Finance Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha and formally present the Bill. This legislative instrument is crucial as it provides legal sanction to the Central government's financial proposals, encompassing tax changes, expenditure allocations, and other economic measures. The Budget presentation thus represents a pivotal moment in India's parliamentary calendar, influencing economic trajectories and political narratives alike.
