Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025 on February 1, unveiling tax relief for the middle class. Under the revised new tax regime, income up to ₹12 lakh will now be exempt from taxation. The budget also introduced measures aimed at bolstering agriculture and MSMEs.
However, political leaders expressed mixed reactions, with some accusing the government of using the budget as an election strategy. Congress criticised the budget, calling it “completely derailed”.
DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran labelled the budget “very disappointing,” suggesting that the tax exemption on income up to ₹12 lakh was misleading due to complex tax slab structures. He further accused the government of prioritising infrastructure spending in Bihar while neglecting Tamil Nadu and other southern states.
Congress MP Manish Tewari questioned whether the budget was for the entire country or just Bihar, noting that the finance minister’s speech predominantly mentioned the state.
On the other hand, Bihar NDA leaders welcomed the budget, highlighting major project allocations, employment opportunities, and sectoral boosts like the establishment of a Makhana Board. They hailed it as a pro-poor, pro-farmer budget.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi saw the tax relief as a long-overdue victory for the middle class, attributing it to the BJP’s reduced strength in the Lok Sabha. She also quipped that Bihar might wish for elections every year, given the special focus it received.
With starkly differing opinions, Budget 2025 has not only offered tax relief but also ignited fresh political debates over regional favouritism and electoral strategies.
