Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik, also Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president, expressed disappointment with the Odisha state budget presented by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi. Patnaik likened the budget to a “full menu in an empty kitchen,” highlighting his dissatisfaction with its contents.
In addition to Patnaik’s criticism, senior BJD leader Dibya Shankar Mishra raised concerns about the lack of new policy direction, financial clarity, and concrete measures for employment generation in Odisha within the 2026-27 budget. Mishra emphasized the absence of significant new initiatives benefiting the state’s residents.
Mishra further pointed out that the budget speech, despite its two-hour duration, failed to introduce substantial new programs for the people of Odisha. He criticized the budget for lacking clear financial allocations and execution plans for the announced schemes, especially in areas concerning women, social development, and vulnerable sections of society.
The opposition Congress also joined in the criticism of the annual state budget, expressing worries about the increasing loan burden and the government’s underutilization of funds allocated in the previous budget. Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das highlighted concerns about the government’s spending patterns and the state’s escalating debt levels, questioning the efficacy of the budgetary allocations.
