A Budget is as much a political as an economic exercise. And you didn't need to look any farther than this one for evidence.
Delhi votes on Wednesday, Bihar in Oct or Nov this year. The Budget has gone the extra nine yards to woo them. For Delhi - India's richest city by per capita income and with a large middle class straddling govt employees, private sector and business - the big tax giveaway was a loud & clear signal.
Given that AAP's core voter base is thought to be low-income earners, and amid reports that the capital's middle class is wavering, the Modi govt appears to be hoping to tip them over to the side of saffron.
As for Bihar - critical for BJP and ally Nitish Kumar's JDU - the number of times it kept cropping up in Nirmala Sitharaman's speech could have left no one in any doubt as to the NDA govt's intent to retain the state. She announced the setting up of a Makhana Board and a National Institute of Food Technology, expansion of IIT-Patna, promotion of tourism around key Buddhist centres, and support for the Western Kosi canal. And for good measure, she draped herself in a sari with a Madhubani motif - a traditional folk art from Bihar.
All this comes on top of schemes for Bihar in last year's Budget. The political message couldn't have been more unambigous: BJP-JDU will take the fight to RJD-Cong.
Get real-time updates on Budget 2025 and Income Tax Slabs on Times of India. Check out the latest income tax slabs FY 2025-26.
Start a Conversation
Post comment