Wed Mar 26 19:58:53 UTC 2025: ## AAP and BJP Clash Over Karnataka’s ₹1 Lakh Crore Budget

**Bengaluru, Karnataka –** The Karnataka Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on Wednesday between the ruling BJP and the opposition AAP over the recently presented ₹1 lakh crore budget. AAP MLAs accused Chief Minister Rekha Gupta of using “fictitious” revenue collection estimates and questioned the feasibility of several projects, particularly the ₹5,100 crore Mahila Samridhi Yojana, citing doubts about the promised ₹2,500 monthly assistance to women. They also criticized the absence of an economic survey preceding the budget and the BJP’s failure to deliver on pre-election promises of subsidized cooking gas.

BJP MLAs defended the budget, arguing that while presenting an economic survey beforehand is good practice, it’s not constitutionally mandated. They countered AAP’s concerns about the budget’s financial projections.

Further fueling the debate, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj questioned potential tax increases on traders to fund the budget. Leader of the Opposition Atishi criticized the limited time allocated for budget discussions, a claim the Speaker refuted as politically motivated. Despite the Speaker’s response, the budget discussion extended beyond the initially allotted time, lasting nearly three hours on Wednesday and continuing into Thursday. The Budget Session has been extended to April 2nd.

In a separate development, the Assembly formed a five-member committee to review demands for increased MLA salaries, staff allowances, and data entry operator wages.

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