From milk to Amrit: Civic polls focus of state budget?

Bhopal: The upcoming civic and panchayat elections remained the focus of Madhya Pradesh govt in the 2025-26 state budget presented on Wednesday. ‘Dwarka Yojana' introduced by the govt for urban infrastructure development with an investment of Rs 5,000 crore over the next three years aims to improve infrastructure in city areas.
Similarly, under the rural land ownership rights scheme, the state govt has announced to bear the entire cost of stamp duty and registration fees and kept a provision of Rs 3,800 crore for it in the budget. For road strengthening works, the govt allocated a sum of Rs 756 cr.The govt has already started preparations for the municipal elections next year. A provision of Rs 700 crore was made for the Yashoda Milk Supply Scheme (total expenditure of Rs 6,600 crore over five years), for providing milk to the school students upto Class 8.Under the major scheme allocations for financial year 2026–27, the govt kept Rs 6,172 crore for grants to local bodies, as per 16th finance commission recommendations.A provision of Rs 6,850 cr was made for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural). The govt also allocated lump-sum grants to local bodies for basic services (state's share in taxes, as per state finance commission). Provision of Rs 4,794 crore was made under the head.The govt allocated funds for million plus cities (AMRUT 2.0). A provision of Rs 1,418 crore was made for the purpose in the budget. For the MP rural housing and transport infrastructure development fund, the govt made a provision of Rs 510 cr.A sum of Rs 951 crore was kept for cities with population below 1 Lakh (AMRUT 2.0). For the major dist roads, its construction and upgradation, the govt made provisioon of Rs 656 crore.The govt has already started preparations for the municipal elections next year. In the upcoming 2027 municipal general elections, the post of chairperson will be filled through direct elections by the voters. The govt has made necessary changes in this regard. The state has close to 400 municipal bodies.The last urban body elections were held in 2022 when mayors were elected directly by voters while elected councillors elected the chairpersons of municipalities and town council. The next urban body polls are due in 2027, a year before assembly elections 2028.