Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), criticized the Gujarat government’s 2026–2027 budget on February 21.
He claimed that the budget did not sufficiently address spending needs in areas like employment, roads, healthcare, education, and agriculture, and that it provided little relief for households.
During a news conference, Kejriwal stated that AAP leaders had looked over the budget and discovered “nothing” for a variety of social groups, such as women, youth, farmers, and traders. He maintained that because state budgets determine the direction of public spending and the cost of services, they directly affect household finances.
Additionally, Kejriwal claimed that the BJP’s lengthy rule in Gujarat had resulted in political complacency and that the ruling party thought voters had few options. Without providing any proof, he went on to say that the state’s main opposition party, the Congress, was “in the BJP’s pocket.” At the time of publication, the Congress did not immediately address Kejriwal’s accusation.
Kejriwal frequently contrasted the governance performance of Gujarat with that of the AAP in Punjab, where the party has held power since 2022. He claimed that the Punjabi government had implemented a health insurance policy that covered ₹10 lakh per family and gave this as an example that other states may follow. He further asserted that during the AAP’s rule, Punjab’s roads, irrigation coverage, and power supply had all improved.
Alongside Kejriwal at the news conference, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann echoed the criticism of the Gujarat budget and made the case that public funds ought to be used to construct infrastructure like roads, schools, and hospitals. Mann also brought up the AAP’s previous time in Delhi, claiming that the party had made public health and education spending a top priority at that time.
According to the state government’s budget portal, the Gujarat government’s 2026–2027 budget calls for a total expenditure of ₹4,08,053 crore. Among the main allocations listed on the same portal are ₹63,184 crore for the Department of Education, ₹25,403 crore for the Department of Health and Family Welfare, and ₹29,709 crore for the Department of Roads and Buildings.
Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma responded to criticism of the budget by calling it a prosperity and welfare-oriented plan that did not include new levies. According to statements from a BJP press briefing in Gandhinagar, he stated that the budget was designed to assist “the poor, youth, farmers, and women” and was based on a framework including topics like technology, transformation, tourism, trust, and transparency.
While arguing that their party’s governing model in other states demonstrated what could be accomplished within current budgets, AAP officials stated they will continue to bring up issues of public services and economic pressures in Gujarat in the run-up to the next Assembly elections.
