BHUBANESWAR: Fresh off its assembly presentation, Odisha’s 2026-27 budget has ignited a firestorm of criticism from the opposition. BJD president Naveen Patnaik, addressing journalists post-budget, delivered a memorable barb: the document resembles a ‘full menu in an empty kitchen.’
The former CM’s words resonated as BJD heavyweight Divya Shankar Mishra dissected the budget’s shortcomings. He accused it of offering no new policy vision, fiscal transparency, or robust employment plans. ‘A prolonged speech, yet zero new launches for Odisha’s citizens,’ Mishra lamented.
Key grievances included absent funding and timelines for touted schemes. Mishra spotlighted neglect toward women, social progress, and weaker sections. ‘Financial provisions are missing from most announcements – unforgivable. SC/ST communities lack special programs, women’s empowerment sticks to direct transfers, and employment generation sees no innovation,’ he asserted.
Congress echoed these concerns, with state president Bhakta Charan Das slamming the government’s track record. ‘Size doesn’t matter when execution fails. With just 57% spending in 10 months, claiming pride in a ₹20,000+ crore budget is laughable. Elephant-sized promises, mosquito-like delivery.’
The uproar reveals fissures in Odisha’s political landscape. While the budget outlines ambitious goals like infrastructure boosts and welfare expansions, opponents argue it’s long on vision, short on viability. Stakeholders await clarity on how these pledges will materialize amid rising debts and past underutilization.