Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has expressed disappointment over the Union Budget 2026-27, saying that the state did not get any major benefit or significant support from the Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament. He said his initial review shows no special allocations or important projects for Karnataka in the central financial plan.
Shivakumar criticised changes to rural employment schemes, pointing out that the new programme replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will be harder to implement because of its cost-sharing rules, and he demanded that the original MGNREGA be restored.
He also said that Bengaluru, described by the Prime Minister as a “global city,” did not receive focused support in the Budget, and raised concerns that cooperative sugar factories and farmers were not helped.
Shivakumar added that Karnataka expects stronger fiscal support from the Centre for urban development, agriculture and other sectors.
