Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda on Wednesday presented the state budget for 2026–27 in the Assembly, proposing a total outlay of ₹4,38,317 crore.

Devda tabled the budget amid protests and interruptions from the Opposition, which raised concerns over what it described as a “mounting debt” burden on the people of the state.

Earlier, chairing a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described the 2026–27 budget as historic in several respects and said it reflected the government’s resolve to move forward step by step while taking everyone along.

The budget is dedicated to the welfare of the poor, youth, farmers and women, along with a focus on expanding industrial activities in the state, the chief minister said.

Ahead of the budget presentation, Congress MLAs, led by Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar, staged a protest at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in the legislature complex. Carrying empty piggy banks and placards with slogans, they accused the government of pursuing flawed economic policies.

Singhar alleged that the government’s borrowing of ₹5,600 crore even before the start of the budget session indicated that Madhya Pradesh was being pushed deeper into debt.

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He claimed the government was “living on borrowed money” drawn from public taxes and offering only illusions in the name of development.