"Total disappointment for Kerala...no mention of promised AIIMS": KC Venugopal slams Union Budget

New Delhi [India], February 1 (ANI): Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday strongly criticised the Union Budget 2026-2027, calling it a "total disappointment for Kerala", while alleging that it favours big corporates over the common people.
Reacting to the budget, the Congress leader questioned the Centre over the absence of Kerala-specific announcements, particularly the long-pending promise to establish an AIIMS in the state.
"What is announced for Kerala? Total disappointment for Kerala. For the last ten years, they have been promising to give AIIMS to Kerala. In this budget, there is no mention of the AIIMS for Kerala," he said.
Venugopal also launched a broader attack on the intent of the budget, claiming it does not address the concerns of ordinary citizens. "This budget is not for common people. It is a budget for big corporates," he said.
Describing the budget as lacking substance, Venugopal added, "How can people welcome this budget? Nothing is there. The budget is completely hollow."
Earlier in the day, Venugopal slammed the Union Budget, calling it a "listless, heartless budget from a clueless government" that fails to address the real challenges facing ordinary Indians and offers little for his home state, Kerala.
In a post shared on X, Venugopal said the government's approach continues a trend that began last session with the axing of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
"A listless, heartless budget from a clueless government. What began last session with the axing of MGNREGA has gone forward with massive welfare cuts in the name of "fiscal discipline," he wrote.
The Congress leader highlighted rising unemployment, declining quality of life, and financial stress on the middle class as key areas where the budget falls short.
"This government needs to open their eyes. People's quality of living is plummeting day by day. Unemployment is at an all time high, and quality of life has never fallen lower. The middle class is bleeding due to a turbulent market, and the welfare safety net is being destroyed brick by brick," Venugopal said.
Venugopal also pointed to concerns about his home state, Kerala, saying it has been ignored in key developmental projects.
"For my home state Kerala, it is yet another year of step-motherly treatment. The promised AIIMS found no mention, and no city in Kerala is included in the High-Speed Rail Corridor. All in all, this is a budget for nobody except the Prime Minister's cronies, with the ordinary Indian left to struggle under the weight of higher prices, falling jobs, crumbling infrastructure and a bleak future," Venugopal added.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in Lok Sabha, her ninth consecutive Union Budget.
The Centre has allocated Rs 1.4 lakh crores for states for the Financial Year 2026-27 as Finance Commission grants, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday.
Presenting the Union Budget 2026-27, FM Sitharaman said the Centre has accepted the 16th Finance Commission's recommendation to retain the vertical share of devolution at 41 per cent.
She said, "The Government has accepted the 16th Finance Commission recommendations to retain the vertical share of devolution at 41 per cent. I have allocated Rs 1.4 lakh crores for states for FY 2026-27 as Finance Commission grants. These include rural and urban local body and disaster management grants."
The 15th Finance Commission recommended a share of states in the central taxes to be 41 per cent, and the 16th Finance Commission has retained the vertical share of devolution. (ANI)