The last session before the assembly polls, likely to be held in Oct, is expected to be stormy as govt will look to reach out to voters and MVA, still riding the high from its stellar performance in the LS polls, will look to corner it over several key issues, especially the exam leaks, the Maratha and OBC reservation rows and the agrarian crisis, as well as expose ‘scams’.
Political observers said it would be a challenge for govt to make sure the budget rings in some positivity and is seen as inclusive, especially for backward castes and minorities while maintaining financial discipline. “With the LS poll setback, Mahayuti will have to use the budget to reach out to voters, especially backward castes and minorities. The budget will largely be a political tool, rather than a financial instrument. It will in some way be the beginning of the assembly poll campaign and is expected to be very community- and caste-oriented. The opposition will be more aggressive and vocal after its LS win,” said a political observer.
Officials, too, expected the budget to have a greater focus on pre-poll sops.
The state govt had in Feb presented an interim budget, since the Lok Sabha polls were around the corner, which had sought spending approvals only till July.
As a result, the budget did not mention any major new scheme. However, it played the pre-poll welfare card by providing for different sections, including backward classes, women, youth and farmers. Also, it had provided for the conservation of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s forts, pilgrimage sites, temples, a Maharashtra Bhavan at Ayodhya and Srinagar, and memorials to a host of state icons.
The interim budget had showed that the state’s debt continues to soar-projected to be 7.8 lakh crore for 2024-25, which is Rs 70,000 crore higher than Rs 7.1 lakh-crore for 2023-24. The revenue deficit was projected to be Rs 9,734 crore and the fiscal deficit Rs 99,288 crore.
Ajit Pawar also allocated 2,000 crore for removal of Vidarbha’s irrigation backlog on Tuesday.
Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had told TOI that the amount was earmarked for the completion o f irrigation projects.
Pawar announced creating 2.34 lakh hectare irrigation capacity by completing 39 projects across the state.