'Directionless, visionless, nothing for Bengal': Mamata Banerjee tears into Union Budget 2026

Taking a swipe at the overall design of the Budget, the TMC supremo dubbed it a “Humpty-Dumpty Budget”.

• Mamata Banerjee called the Union Budget 2026-27 "directionless" and "anti-people."
• She alleged the Budget ignored West Bengal's needs and denied the state its dues
• Banerjee: Budget lacks support for social sectors, vulnerable groups

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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Sunday, launched a sharp attack on the Union Budget 2026-27, branding it “directionless, visionless and anti-people” and alleging that it failed both the common citizen and her state.

Speaking to reporters at Kolkata airport before departing for New Delhi, Banerjee said the Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day was heavy on rhetoric but light on substance, with no meaningful support for states, social sectors or vulnerable groups.

“This Budget is directionless, visionless, actionless and anti-people. It is also anti-women, anti-farmer, anti-education and against the SC, ST and OBC. There is nothing on offer for Bengal in the Budget,” the chief minister alleged.

Banerjee claimed that despite the Centre projecting higher capital expenditure, fiscal consolidation and reforms aimed at boosting manufacturing and exports, the Budget ignored the concerns of states like West Bengal and failed to address pressing issues such as rising prices, unemployment and social welfare.

“There is nothing for the common man in this Budget. Only jugglery of words. They talk a lot but do very little on the ground,” she said.

Accusing the Centre of denying Bengal its legitimate financial dues, Banerjee said the state was entitled to more than Rs 2 lakh crore from the central government, including pending GST compensation and other statutory transfers.

“They have not given a single paisa to Bengal. There is only one tax, GST. They are taking away our money and talking. What they are collecting from Bengal, they are not giving our full funds,” she said.

Reacting to claims made in the Budget speech about the creation of three economic corridors, Banerjee said the projects were neither new nor initiated by the Centre.

“What they said about three corridors is absolutely garbage of lies. Blatant lies. It is already in process and we have started working there,” Banerjee said.

Citing the Jangalmahal Jangal Sundari project in Purulia, the chief minister said the state government had already begun work on the proposed economic corridor, with investments of around Rs 72,000 crore lined up. “For this economic corridor in Jangalmahal, Rs 72,000 crore is going to be invested. They are claiming credit for work that is already underway,” she said.

Reiterating her charge that the Centre was withholding Bengal’s legitimate dues, Banerjee alleged that funds collected from the state were not being returned in full. “They have not given a single paisa to Bengal. There is only one tax, GST. They are taking away our money and saying big things about giving us money. It is our money,” noted the chief minister.

She further questioned the Centre’s moral authority, alleging that it was weakening the federal structure while centralising resources and decision-making.

VIDEO | Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Budget 2026-27 says, "They have not given a single paisa to Bengal. Only one tax is there, GST. They are taking away our money and talking. It is our money. What they are collecting from Bengal, they are not giving our full… pic.twitter.com/7bgeE4aH9N

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 1, 2026

“They don’t have any moral authority to run the government like this and finish the country. They want to destroy the economic structure of the country, the constitutional structure, the independent agencies, infrastructure, the economy, the social sector, the economic sector and the federal sector. Everything is being vanquished,” Banerjee claimed.

Taking a swipe at the overall design of the Budget, the TMC supremo dubbed it a “Humpty-Dumpty Budget”.

What are the key takeaways from the Union Budget 2026? Check live updates here.

“It is a Humpty-Dumpty Budget....just jugglery of words. It is anti-women, anti-farmer and anti-education,” she said, adding that policies should be framed in a way that “common people can actually enjoy the facilities”.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 2026-27, outlined measures aimed at simplifying the tax regime, boosting domestic manufacturing and exports, supporting infrastructure development and maintaining fiscal discipline.