Budget Shows 'Electoral Flavor'! Nirmala Sitharaman Announces a Barrage of Projects from Bengal to Kerala

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth consecutive Union Budget 2026 in Parliament on Sunday (February 1). The 2025 budget had a special focus on Bihar as the state was due for elections in 2025. Similarly, the 2021 budget included announcements focused on West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.

This time too, the budget focuses on these election-bound states, where polling is scheduled for April this year. Announcements have been made related to the textile sector, roads, rail infrastructure, and mining of rare earth metals. On the other hand, Finance Minister Sitharaman's speech also included several announcements related to tourism and pilgrimage programs targeting these states. Let's tell you what the election-bound states received from the budget.

West Bengal

• A new dedicated freight corridor will be built from Dankuni in the east to Surat in the west to promote environmentally friendly freight transport.

• Five tourist destinations will be developed in the Purvoday states, and 4,000 e-buses will be provided.

• An integrated East Coast Industrial Corridor will be developed with a well-organized center in Durgapur.

Tamil Nadu

• Mineral-rich states of Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu will be provided assistance in setting up critical mineral facilities.

• Seven high-speed rail corridors connecting cities will be developed, including Mumbai to Pune, Pune to Hyderabad, Hyderabad to Bengaluru, Hyderabad to Chennai, Chennai to Bengaluru, Delhi to Varanasi, and Varanasi to Siliguri. • Routes will be developed for bird watching at Pulicat Lake and in the border areas of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

• He announced an expenditure of ₹20,000 crore over the next five years to strengthen infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, including temple towns in Tamil Nadu.

Kerala and Assam

• The Finance Minister has proposed to assist mineral-rich states such as Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu in setting up critical mineral facilities.

• Major nesting sites for turtles, as well as routes for them, will be developed.

• An allocation of ₹20,000 crore has been made over the next five years to strengthen infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, including temple towns in Assam.

Summary

Ninth Union Budget, focusing on election-bound West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, along with major rail and mineral infrastructure initiatives.