S India not happy with 2025 budget

KERALA and other southern states have voiced strong discontent with the Union Budget 2025-26, accusing the central government of ignoring their regional needs and concerns. 

According to political leaders, the budget failed to address several critical demands from southern states, leading to widespread dissatisfaction in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly criticized the Union Budget, alleging that it showed a “political approach” focused on electoral considerations rather than the genuine needs of the state. 
He expressed disappointment over the absence of major infrastructure projects like AIIMS and the Railway Coach Manufacturing Plant, both of which Kerala had long advocated for. 

“None of these has been considered in the budget. There are no big projects,” Vijayan remarked. 
He further stated that the budget’s failure to address unemployment, inflation and poverty violated the federal structure of the Constitution. 

Kerala was hoping for substantial relief in the form of a Rs 24,000-crore economic package and Rs 5,000 crore for the Vizhinjam port project. 

Finance Minister KN Balagopal, too, expressed disappointment, highlighting that the state’s specific requests were ignored.

“Vizhinjam port is a major infrastructure investment. We requested some funds. We raised the concerns of rubber plantation farmers. 20-21 per cent of the total income of foreign money is coming through the NRIs of Kerala. So some welfare schemes were expected. These were the issues we raised. They are not giving proper funding to the state. It’s very evident from the budget.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accused the Union Budget of overlooking the state’s demands and ignoring its significance in national economic planning. 

He pointed out that Tamil Nadu’s name was scarcely mentioned in the budget, despite its high ranking in the Economic Survey and NITI Aayog reports. 

Stalin expressed frustration over the lack of funding for major projects, including highways and metro rail initiatives. 

“Tamil Nadu is completely ignored in the Budget Report this year,” he said, also highlighting the state’s growing financial burden as the Union Government reduces its share in various projects. 

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah called the budget a “khaali chombu” (empty vessel) for the state, pointing out that despite Karnataka being one of the highest tax-paying states, it received minimal funding in comparison to states like Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, which were given special grants. 

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge added to the criticism, dismissing the budget as a series of empty announcements. “We have been seeing this for the past 10 years. Due to Modi’s masterstrokes, unemployment is at its peak,” he remarked.

Telangana also voiced its displeasure with the budget, accusing the central government of neglecting the state’s requests. 

Telangana Minister Konda Surekha expressed frustration at the lack of support for the state’s growth and development, highlighting that the promises made to Telangana were ignored. She criticized the budget for failing to fulfil the expectations of southern states and for sidelining their developmental needs.

Meanwhile, Union Minister George Kurian waded into controversy on Sunday after asking Kerala to ‘declare itself backward’ if it wanted funds.

He said that if Kerala wants more funds from the Centre, the state should declare that it is backward in terms of education, infrastructure, and social welfare.

The remark from Kurian, while speaking to reporters in the national capital, came in the wake of intense criticism of the union budget 2025-26 from the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress in Kerala, which on Saturday accused the central government of "neglecting" all of the state's demands.

Following their remarks, Kurian, the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Minority Affairs, said that the Centre allocates such financial packages to states that are backward on various indices.

"You announce that Kerala is backward, that it does not have roads, good education, etc. If you say that Kerala is behind other states in terms of education, infrastructure, and social welfare, then the (Finance) Commission will examine it and give a report to the central government. The central government will take a decision based on the report. It does not decide on its own," he said.