BJP leaders have criticised the State Budget for what they called reduced focus on development and reliance on guarantees.

Member of Legislative Assembly Abhay Patil said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s Budget has left the State burdened with lakhs of crores of debts and is full of thousands of false promises.

“Without any clear direction for the development of the State, this Budget disappoints the hopes and aspirations of the common people,” he said.

Member of Legislative Assembly Balachandra Jarkiholi said that the Budget seems to have been designed in the process of adjusting funds for the Congress’ guarantee schemes. They have burdened Kannadigas with additional debts.

“It is clear that the State government is suffering from a shortage of funds in the Treasury. Thus, this is a Budget with zero development, no progress, no direction,” he said.

“It seems that the focus is more on development of Bengaluru and Mysuru. Injustice has been done to North Karnataka by not releasing more funds to tourism development and irrigation development. The Chief Minister has not announced any new schemes for North Karnataka. No special packages have been given for farmers in the Budget. They have completely ignored sugarcane growers. There is no mention of the promises made in the earlier Budgets,” he said.

The former MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath said that it seemed the Chief Minister has given more priority to vote bank politics than the overall development of the State. Of the total outlay of ₹4.48 lakh crore, over ₹51,600 crore is set aside for guarantees.

While welfare schemes are necessary, it is disappointing that there is no clear direction for large-scale job creation, industrial investment, long-term schemes to increase farmers income and infrastructure development, he said.

He also criticised it as a minorities-oriented Budget with Maulana Azad schools for minority communities getting ₹600 crore, the upgrading of Urdu schools worth about ₹400 crore and the provision of 75% subsidy (up to ₹3 lakh) to minority youth to start business.

There is no special industrial development package for North Karnataka districts nor grants for irrigation projects, he said.