Lucknow erupted in political drama on Monday as Uttar Pradesh’s budget session kicked off with the Governor’s address to the joint legislature. What should have been a unifying moment quickly turned contentious, with opposition parties—Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Congress—unleashing sharp criticism.
BSP supremo Mayawati led the charge on social media platform X, labeling the speech a departure from tradition. ‘The address lacked enthusiasm for real development and public welfare,’ she posted. She highlighted the plight of millions across UP, tormented by flawed policies, poverty, unemployment, and fears for life, property, and faith. Mayawati argued the Governor should have urged the government to address these, offering reassurance amid ongoing opposition protests and disruptions.
The speech, she noted, was devoid of concrete details on fulfilling BJP’s grand promises in public welfare. ‘These gaps fuel public anxiety and must be rectified in the upcoming budget,’ she added.
SP veteran and MLA Shivpal Singh Yadav didn’t hold back, calling the Governor’s words a ‘festival of false praises’ for a corruption-ridden government. Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ dismissed it as a bundle of lies and airy promises. She pointed out the Governor barely read the 55-page document, proof that achievements exist only on paper.
Mishra tore into specific claims: law and order boasts ring hollow amid rising crime; corruption has multiplied; lakhs of police posts remain vacant. Health services? Medical colleges are hyped but lack buildings, doctors, staff, and medicines. Farmers suffer from delayed fertilizers and seeds under anti-farmer policies.
The day began with a vigorous protest by Congress alongside INDIA alliance partners at Chaudhary Charan Singh’s statue in the assembly premises. They raised alarms on unemployment, inflation, farmer woes, crumbling health systems, and SIR issues.
As the session unfolds, this opening salvo signals a stormy budget debate ahead, with opposition demanding accountability over rhetoric.