Watch: No specific giveaways for poll-bound states in Budget 2026 — The Hindu Reporters Explain

With Assembly elections months away, expectations were high that the Union Budget would include special schemes or targeted allocations for these poll-bound Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry . But in her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman avoided election-specific announcements, sticking instead to broader national priorities and fiscal discipline. That approach has drawn criticism from Opposition parties, particularly in States ruled by non-NDA governments, who say the Budget overlooks regional needs.