Election bonanza or welfare push? Opp slams Assam Budget as vote-buying exercise

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 10, 2025

The Assam State Budget 2025-26 has sparked a political storm, with major opposition parties, including the Congress, AIUDF, and AJP, slamming it as “beneficiary-oriented” and “election-centric.” Critics claim the government is packaging old schemes with new names and expanding welfare programs to gain political mileage ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Reacting to the State Budget, Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia said, “The budget is a rebranded version of old schemes, repackaged to buy votes.”

“Tea garden schools have been ignored. The government has failed to deliver on its promises,” Saikia said.

In a statement, Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress (APMC) president Mira Borthakur Goswami said, “Only 19% of previous budget funds were used productively; the rest went into creating beneficiaries.”

“The state is drowning in debt—borrowing Rs 900-1,000 crore every month. With 1.30 crore people set to receive benefits, this is an outright election budget,” Goswami said.

AIUDF MLA Hazi Rafikul Islam said, “Nothing new in the budget—just a repetition of past promises.”

“The places like Dhubri, Barpeta, and Mankachar have been completely neglected. All benefits will start from October—just before the elections. This is politically motivated,” he added.

The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) also criticized the budget, calling it a politically motivated move to secure votes for the BJP.

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AJP president Lurinjyoti Gogoi and general secretary Jagadish Bhuyan said, “The government ignored Assam’s farmers, who are struggling with high fertilizer and pesticide costs.”

“98% of agricultural land lacks irrigation, yet no funds were allocated for it,” they said. “Despite BJP’s 9 years in power, there’s no concrete flood and erosion control plan,” Gogoi and Bhuyan said.

“No provisions for controlling rising prices of essential commodities, medicines, and construction materials,” they further said.

The AJP also criticized the lack of support for ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, contractual health staff, and teachers. They argued that, apart from expanding Orunodoi to 37.2 lakh beneficiaries, the budget lacks a clear vision for Assam’s economic development.

While the government hails the budget as people-centric, opposition leaders insist it is a strategic move to create beneficiaries ahead of elections. With massive welfare expansions, increased debt, and accusations of neglecting key sectors, the budget has fueled a heated political battle in Assam.