NCP-SCP leader Jitendra Awhad criticizes Union Budget 2025, says Sitharaman's economic revival efforts "do not seem to be successful"

Thane (Maharashtra) [India], February 3 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SCP) leader Jitendra Awhad criticized the Union Budget 2025 and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, saying that the budget is beneficial to Maharashtra only during election time and that the efforts to revive the economy "do not seem to be successful."
"The budget is beneficial only when there are elections in Maharashtra. Both have different views on the budget. Nirmala Sitharaman's efforts to revive the economy do not seem to be successful," Awhad said during a press conference.
Awhad also criticized the state government's decision to discontinue eggs from mid-day meals for school children.
"Eggs are provided to strengthen the body as they contain protein. For taste, they (Mahayuti) should know whether eating sweets like basundi and jalebi is harmful or not," he said.
On January 31, Awhad had also presented eggs to the Thane District Magistrate as a form of protest against the scheme's discontinuation.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also criticized the Union Budget, claiming that every budget presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was an election package. He pointed out that this time, Bihar was the focal point of the budget.
"Election is due in Bihar, and Modi government's every budget is an election package. This time, because there is an election in Bihar, they have allocated the maximum amount to the state," Raut told reporters.
In her budget speech on Saturday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several incentives for Bihar, where assembly elections are due later this year.
She announced that Greenfield airports would be developed in Bihar, in addition to expanding the capacity of Patna Airport and constructing a brownfield airport in Bihta.
She also highlighted the Western Kosi Canal ERM project in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar.
"Financial support will be provided for the Western Kosi Canal ERM project benefitting a large number of farmers cultivating over 50,000 hectares of land in the Mithilanchal region of Bihar," she said. (ANI)