Budget reaction : opposition Congress and CPI (M) critical of the budget , describe it as ‘directionless’

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, March 17, 2026

The opposition Congress and CPI (M) have critically reacted to the state budget 2026-2027 presented in the assembly yesterday by the finance minister Pranjit Singharoy. While the leader of the opposition and CPI (M) state secretary Jiten Chowdhury described the budget as ‘hollow and directionless’, the state Congress leadership today termed it as ‘extremely disappointing and debt-oriented’ .

The TPCC president Asish Kumar Saha and the PCC spokesman Prabir Chakraborty held a press conference in the Congress Bhawan today to give their considered view on the budget. “After coming to power in 2018 the BJP government had attributed its financial woes to the debt burden of close to Rs 12 thousand crores left behind by the left front government but today’s position is critical as the present debt burden of the state government is more than Rs 22 thousand crores ; how have this government managed the state’s economy amid their tall talks and bluster” asked Asish . They also put on record their analysis and considered views in a statement.

They said that in the budget of 2025-2026 financial year a total expenditure of Rs 32,423 crores had been proposed but just yesterday the government presented a supplementary budget showing a deficit of Rs 429.56 crores . In the budget presented yesterday for the financial year 2026-2027 the primary deficit has been shown to be Rs 240.72 crores and it is a foregone conclusion that the deficit will further widen at the end of the financial year . “No amount of stastical jugglery can hide the fact that the finances of the stare are in total doldrums’; despite being a double engine why has the BJP led state government has received Rs 31 crore less from the 16th finance commission before presenting the budget yesterday ; these are cold figures “said Asish. He also referred to the growing debt burden of the state government , stating that even in the 2026-2027 financial year the state government has stated in the budget that an amount of Rs 2039.94 crores will go into repaying debt and interest but is there a guaranteed that the amount will not further increase. He asserted that thousands of vacant posts in the administration are not being filled up and employment opportunities have nearly collapsed but there is not even a ray of hope for the unemployed youths of the state .

The leaders of the opposition Jiten Chowdhury also referred to the lack of employment opportunities in the state and total lack of direction to minimise this in the budget. He said that the government had decided in a cabinet meeting that altogether 218 police sub-inspectors would be recruited in the year 2024 but this has not yet materialised and the chief minister is indirectly holding the TPSC authority responsible for this. “The total picture of state finances that has emerged is one of hopelessness and lack of direction ; if this continues the state will hurtle down towards a major financial crisis” said Jiten.

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