Sat Feb 01 19:00:19 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka Chief Minister Criticizes Union Budget’s Low Devolution

**Bengaluru, February 2, 2025** – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed strong disappointment with the 2025-26 Union Budget, criticizing the relatively low devolution of funds to the state. While Karnataka received ₹51,876 crore, a marginal increase from the previous fiscal’s ₹46,932.72 crore, the Chief Minister argued this figure is far lower than expected for a state that ranks second nationally in tax contributions.

Siddaramaiah highlighted that states like Uttar Pradesh (₹2.55 lakh crore) and Bihar (₹1.43 lakh crore) received significantly larger allocations. He stated that despite submitting a detailed list of demands prior to the budget’s presentation, the central government disregarded them. He further alleged that the budget prioritizes Bihar and Andhra Pradesh due to the BJP’s political considerations, a pattern he claims has repeated for the second consecutive year.

Regarding Bengaluru, the Chief Minister noted a lack of substantial allocations, except for ₹350 crore for the suburban rail project and some funding for metro projects. The overall budgetary allocation, he asserted, fails to adequately reflect Karnataka’s significant contribution to the national exchequer.

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