Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday presented a defense of his government’s budget for 2026-27 in the Legislative Assembly, rejecting opposition criticism over financial management and brushing aside allegations that its presentation was influenced by superstition.
Responding to a discussion on the budget he presented on March 6, Siddaramaiah argued that Karnataka’s finances remain within acceptable limits, especially when compared to other large states. He said the revised estimate of the fiscal deficit in 2025-26 was 2.95%, putting the country in a relatively stronger position.
“Even when compared to the progressive states around us in south India, our fiscal deficit remains within prescribed limits. Opposition leader R Ashoka has not studied the budget in depth. All his efforts seem to be focused on grabbing headlines,” he said.
The Prime Minister cited comparative figures from across the country. He pointed out that the fiscal deficit in Maharashtra was 3.0%, Andhra Pradesh was 4.5%, Kerala was 3.8%, and Tamil Nadu was 3.5%, all of which were higher than Karnataka.
The opposition criticized the government for what it described as inconsistencies in revenue projections, arguing that frequent budget revisions reflect poor collection. Siddaramaiah rejected the charge, saying discrepancies between budget estimates and actual collections are common across states.
“Ideally, there should be no revenue shortfall. However, revenue shortfall exists not only in states like Maharashtra and other southern states, but also at the Union government level. Among them, Karnataka and Maharashtra have relatively lower revenue shortfall,” he said.
Neighboring states also recorded lower actual revenues compared to their initial projections, contradicting the claim that financial planning in Karnataka was uniquely flawed, he added.
The discussion soon took a political turn, with exchanges between the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka. Ashoka suggested that Siddaramaiah may not remain in office long enough to deliver multiple future budgets.
In response, the Prime Minister expressed confidence in his tenure and his party’s prospects. “Look, I have to present two additional budgets. Our government will present them,” he said. He went on to add that his ability to do so would depend on the party’s leadership, but he sounded an optimistic note about the future. “If our top leadership allows me, I will prepare the next two budgets as well. Our government will come to power again in 2028,” he said.
He then turned the challenge back to the opposition, asking whether they could make a similar claim about the formation of the next government. “Can you say that? We can’t predict the future,” he said.
The debate also witnessed harsh criticism from the Opposition on the internal dynamics within the ruling party, with Ashoka referring to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and his recent visits to the temple. Siddaramaiah denied the remarks, saying he had not misled anyone and would continue to defeat the opposition politically.
Another sticking point was the timing of the budget presentation, which some BJP members suggested was timed to avoid “Rahu kala”, a period considered inauspicious in Hindu astrology. The Prime Minister denied that such beliefs guided his decisions, even as he admitted to listening to advice on the issue. “Some people advised me to apply it before Raho kalaBut I don’t believe that Raho kala or Julika KalaBut being a democratic person, I respected their views and nothing else.”
To elaborate further, Siddaramaiah reiterated his long-standing opposition to superstitions in public life. “I don’t believe in that Raho kala or Julika Kala. I eat non-vegetarian food even on festivals like Ugadi and Shivaratri. There’s nothing wrong with that. Does anyone eat meat on Shivratri? “I do,” he said.
At the same time, he acknowledged that he took the timing into consideration after suggestions from family members and officials. “It is true that I presented the budget after reviewing it Raho kala. One should listen to family members and officials, right? Shouldn’t I listen to people like you too? He said during the exchange.
The issue drew more attention after BJP MLA Suresh Kumar raised it publicly, and it was noted that the timing of the show – 10.15 am – fell before the start of Rahu Kaala on that day. The Prime Minister said that such considerations did not influence his decisions, even if he was willing to accommodate different points of view.
Beyond direct discussion, Siddaramaiah couched his position in broader ideological terms, claiming to be committed to rational thinking, social justice and equality. He said he has consistently opposed beliefs that attribute suffering to fate or past actions, calling instead for a more scientific and humane approach to governance.
He also accused the BJP of trying to divert attention away from substantive issues by stirring up controversy over personal choices and beliefs. He referred to previous criticism about his eating habits, and said that such matters are personal. He said: “Is eating meat a problem? (What a person eats) is a personal eating habit. I eat meat and vegetarian foods, it is my habit. Some people do not eat meat, it is their eating habit.”
