Lucknow, Feb 11 Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday termed the Uttar Pradesh Budget for FY 2026-27 a "farewell budget" of the Yogi Adityanath government, asserting that the ruling BJP will exit office after the 2027 Assembly elections.
Yadav criticized the budget, calling it "pro-size" but not "pro-people." He questioned the government's claim that the budget, exceeding Rs 9 lakh crore, was a major achievement.
He argued that the government's focus should be on how to effectively utilize the allocated funds, particularly given the average utilization rate of only 50%.
Yadav also raised concerns about the state's economic projections, calling them "mere estimates" rather than actual figures. He pointed out that the projected GSDP of Rs 30.25 lakh crore for FY 2024-25 and Rs 36 lakh crore for FY 2025-26 were ambitious targets.
He further criticized the government's handling of key sectors, highlighting the low allocation for agriculture, rural development, and animal husbandry. He also questioned the implementation of the Ujjwala scheme and the state's response to increased agricultural imports.
Yadav also criticized the government's approach to investment, questioning the claim of signing agreements worth Rs 50 lakh crore and pointing to the shortfall in actual investments. He also raised concerns about the impact of trade agreements on the state's economy, particularly for its farmers and rural population.
Addressing issues related to employment, Yadav criticized the government for lacking a clear roadmap to address unemployment despite its promises in the budget. He also raised concerns about irregularities in skill development programs and the deliberate weakening of public healthcare to benefit private institutions.
Yadav also criticized the government's failure to launch new infrastructure projects, such as metro rail in Varanasi, Meerut, and Prayagraj, despite earlier announcements. He also questioned the government's handling of the free LPG cylinder scheme and the distribution of smartphones and tablets to two crore people.
In his concluding remarks, Yadav reiterated his assessment of the budget as a "farewell budget" and called for greater transparency and accountability from the government.
