Sat Feb 01 14:39:25 IST 2025: ## Bihar Receives Budget Bonanza, Andhra Pradesh Overlooked, Congress Alleges

**NEW DELHI** – Congress leaders have criticized the Union Budget 2025, alleging preferential treatment for Bihar while Andhra Pradesh has been unfairly neglected. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech, which included significant allocations for Bihar ahead of upcoming state elections, sparked immediate outrage from the opposition.

Jairam Ramesh, a Congress spokesperson, pointed out the irony of Bihar’s substantial gains, noting that “It is natural since elections are due there later in the year.” He questioned the significant lack of attention given to Andhra Pradesh, another key member of the ruling NDA coalition. His criticism was echoed by fellow Congress member Manish Tewari, who questioned whether the budget served the interests of India or solely Bihar.

Bihar’s budget highlights include the establishment of a makhana (fox nut) processing unit, special benefits for farmers through central government schemes, new greenfield airports as part of a civil aviation initiative, a canal project in Mithilanchal, and an expansion of Patna’s IIT.

In contrast, Andhra Pradesh received minimal mention. This stark contrast to last year’s budget, where both states received significant funding – Rs 15,000 crore for Amaravati’s development in Andhra Pradesh and Rs 26,000 crore for road projects and other infrastructure in Bihar – has fueled the Congress’s accusations of bias.

While the budget included substantial income tax relief for the middle class, eliminating tax for incomes up to Rs 12 lakh, Congress argued this measure alone won’t address the larger economic challenges. Ramesh identified four key economic crises: stagnant real wages, weak mass consumption, sluggish private investment, and a complex GST system, which he claimed the budget failed to address. The party maintains the budget prioritizes political expediency over genuine economic solutions.

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