Union Budget 2025 / Naidu-Nitish and Chirag... what did NDA allies get from Nirmala's budget?

The opposition has created a ruckus over the Modi government's 2025 budget. Congress called it the "budget of allies". Andhra and Bihar got special preference, which made the NDA allies happy. Announcements like Polavaram project, Amaravati development, Makhana board and Greenfield airport were prominent.

Vikrant Shekhawat : Feb 01, 2025, 10:30 PM
Union Budget 2025: There has been a political uproar over the Modi government's Budget 2025. Congress and opposition parties have alleged that this budget has become the budget of Bihar and allies. Even while presenting the budget in Parliament, opposition MPs created a ruckus about Bihar. Opposition leaders say that in view of the elections, the government is making announcements keeping in mind Bihar and other allies.

Andhra and Bihar have a big share in the Center

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to form the government on its own. The party was 32 seats behind the magic figure of 272, after which the government was formed under the leadership of Narendra Modi with the support of the NDA alliance.

Bihar and Andhra Pradesh have the most influence in the NDA. In Bihar, Janata Dal United (JDU), Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) are partners in the government. At the same time, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janasena Party are part of the NDA in Andhra Pradesh.

What did the allies get in Budget 2025?

1. Big budget allocation to Andhra Pradesh

Telugu Desam Party's Chandrababu Naidu has 16 and Janasena Party's Pawan Kalyan has 2 Lok Sabha MPs. This time Naidu had demanded financial assistance from the Center for concrete projects, which was accepted by the Modi government.

Rs 30,436 crore has been approved for the Polavaram irrigation project.

Rs 15,000 crore has been allocated for the development of Andhra Pradesh's capital Amaravati.

Andhra can also get a possible share under the Nuclear Solam Project.

2. Major schemes for Bihar

Big announcements have been made to woo NDA's important ally Chirag Paswan and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bihar.

National Food Technology Institute will be established, whose possible location can be Jamui, Hajipur or Samastipur.

Makhana Board will be formed in Mithila region.

A special package has been given for the development of Patna and Bihta airports.

The Western Kosi Canal project will get funding, which will benefit Darbhanga and Madhubani region.

Three greenfield airports will be developed at Rajgir, Sonepur and Bhagalpur.

3. Benefit to NDA allies in Maharashtra

Rs 837 crore has been allocated for the Pune Metro project on Ajit Pawar's demand.

A provision of Rs 596 crore has been made for the Maharashtra Agri Business Network (Magnet) project.

Rs 1,600 crore has been sanctioned to the Mumbai Metro for Eknath Shinde and Rs 1,094 crore under the Green Urban Mobility Project.

Opposition attack and political reaction

Opposition parties allege that this budget has been prepared keeping in mind the upcoming elections. The Congress said that the Modi government has presented an election budget, giving priority only to NDA allies.

However, the government claims that this budget focuses on the overall development of the country and has been prepared keeping all the states in mind. NDA allies have praised the budget and called it development-oriented.

Conclusion

The Modi government's Budget 2025 has proved to be politically important. Special schemes have been brought to satisfy the allies, so that the stability of the government can be ensured. At the same time, the opposition is criticizing it calling it biased. Now it remains to be seen what political impact this budget has on the upcoming elections.