‘Kerala was not mentioned anywhere’, Shashi Tharoor’s first reaction on Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech.

Shashi Tharoor, while giving his first reaction on Budget 2026, said that very little details have been received. He said that there were 3-4 headlines but while we were waiting, AIIMS Ayurveda was announced but it was not told where it would come, there is a great need for it in our Kerala. We have a long tradition of Ayurveda here, but the Finance Minister did not take the name of Kerala.

Kerala was not mentioned – Tharoor
He said that the Finance Minister mentioned coconut. By coconut it can probably only be Kerala. He said that coconut production is highest in Kerala only. Varanasi’s name was taken, Patna’s name was taken but Kerala was not mentioned. He said that there was very little information in the speech. Maybe in the detailed document. Taking aim at the government, Shashi Tharoor said that the problem with the government is that it makes a lot of promises, but nothing happens on implementation.

#WATCH | On #UnionBudgetCongress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “We got very few details. There were 3-4 headlines, but we were waiting for the All India Institute of Ayurveda. Where is it? We wanted this in Kerala. We have had a long tradition of Ayurveda. But we didn’t hear Kerala’s… pic.twitter.com/xyjt5nG83q

— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2026

Akhilesh Yadav’s attack
Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav made a sharp attack on the budget and said that this budget is disconnected from the ground reality. He raised the question, ‘This budget is beyond the understanding of the poor. How will you create a developed India without education?

Congress reaction
Congress MP Gurjit Singh Aujla adopted a cautious stance on the budget. He said that it is important to see whether India is getting a budget like developed countries. He said, ‘Are we getting budget equal to developed countries? We hope that the country will get an equal and balanced budget.

TMC called the budget disappointing
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy completely rejected the budget and said that there is nothing new in it. He alleged that the Finance Minister has repeated the old schemes. He also said that no state got anything special, especially West Bengal was completely ignored.