Naveen Patnaik Slams Odisha Budget 2026–27 as Full Menu in Empty Kitchen
Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik sharply criticised the Odisha Budget 2026–27, describing it as a “full menu in an empty kitchen.” He argued that while the government presented ambitious announcements, the financial backing to implement them remains unclear.
The state government unveiled a record outlay of Rs 3.10 lakh crore, with Rs 72,100 crore earmarked as capital outlay for infrastructure development, amounting to 23.3% of the budget and 6.5% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
Programme expenditure stands at Rs 1.80 lakh crore, accounting for over 58% of the total.
Sectoral allocations include Rs 42,492 crore for agriculture and Rs 23,182 crore for public health, alongside significant provisions for rural development, irrigation, women’s empowerment, and tourism.
Sixteen new initiatives were announced, such as the Jagannath Interpretation Centre in Puri with a Rs 1,000 crore allocation, the Odisha AI Mission, smart farm markets, enhanced grain storage facilities, and expanded pension benefits covering six lakh additional beneficiaries.
The budget is framed around six guiding pillars: People First, Rural Empowerment, Prosperity for All, Our Legacy Our Pride, Technology Leading the Way, and People-Centric Governance.
Despite these promises, Naveen Patnaik maintained that the budget lacks practical viability, raising doubts about its execution.
