Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is hoping Meri Rasoi food scheme will help AAP retain power next year. But economists warn that it may strain Punjab’s already stretched finances.
The Union government’s fiscal discipline has not been matched by state fiscal discipline, thanks to the tendency to promise unconditional freebies to the electorate.
Dismissing unconditional cash transfers through the parochial logic of ‘unearned assistance is undeserving’ narrows the space for policy innovation and restricts possibilities for social mobility.
In 2025-26, Bihar is estimated to spend Rs 1,08,094 cr on committed expenditure, which is 42% of its estimated revenue receipts. This offers little scope for spending on development.
Delhi has historically been in revenue surplus, but last 2 years have seen a deceleration. Subsidies & cash transfers may escalate the deficit, unless accompanied by a hike in revenues.
By confronting everyone who comes in her way, even the Election Commission or crime-fighting agencies like the ED, Mamata Banerjee has shown that for her, everything is personal.
The countries signed a memorandum for co-development of UNICORN masts in November 2024. India has been second Asian nation to have such an agreement with Tokyo, after Philippines.
As a BJP fan, I can vouch for what the analyst has written here about the ground realities. True, the picture is not rosy and the government is not doing enough to solve the issues. But the reason given for the issue of overlooking the BJP failure by middle class is completely wrong.
He believes that people votes for BJP because it serves their Hindusim interests; best, which is entirely fallacious. People vote for BJP due to the fear of Congress or any other party which are more susceptible to corruption and failures in comparison to BJP.
True, as a BJP voter, I am very much unhappy with the party on many issues but same time I see Congress or any other party ; a threat on whatsoever we are doing good at. They don’t inspire any confidence in people but to a large extend, BJP/Modi does. Yes, Hinduism is an added recipe, BJP serves but that is not enough to convince a voter for the party.
This country needs a party with better leaders than BJP then only BJP will lose. And a Pappy, a Kejriwal, a Yadav or a Mamata doesn’t fit the bill.
There is also the question of legacy. What endures when the passions of the moment are spent. There are so many things for which Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru will be evaluated generously by history. For our family, IIM A , part of the vision which created the IITs and IIMs, which allowed bright Indians to succeed all over the world, on a scale that could not have expected for a poor country emerging from two centuries of colonial rule. Now we have women advancing the birth of their children by C section, to beat President Trump’s deadline for citizenship by birth.
Can’t argue with the diagnosis. Middle class is happy to be fleeced as long as the itch of islamophobia is scratched. Atleast the “captive” Muslim votebank is able to extract concessions from the Congress, the middle class gets only scorn and pity from their masters. The budget will undoubtedly be another nail on their coffin.
Oppressive taxes? You must be joking. Which taxes are oppressive in Modi era vis-a-vis earlier years? Please provide comparison. Or, apologise for misinformation.
Your artificial love for Middle class is more of Modi hatred than any affection for middle class. This revdi freebies was infact started by regional parties and manifesto of Cong is even worse when it comes to freebies. So even if one agrees with you, alternative is even worse.
Comment section everywhere is filled with radicalised and frustrated right wing creatures. It’s like har shaakh par ullu baitha hai and the horrible anjaam e gulistan we are witnessing today.
Again and again, journalists cannot fathom the idea that anyone earning Rs. 12 lakhs a year+ in India are not middle class. At the best estimate they are less than 5% of the population. There is no way they can influence the outcome of any election. The best they can do is influence the way other classes vote but here again they have lost their influential power because they have so completely disengaged themselves from politics as to be irrelevant.
Many have gone paranoid over mere existence of Modi, SG being one of them. Mere thought of Modi can cause constipation to likes of him. I wonder if they can perform their daily morning biological functions without cursing/abusing Modi.
Mr Gupta is more worried about the middle class folks than they themselves are. What a sad state of affairs today. Anyways a nice enough article to read. Kudos.
Middle class likes him because Rahul baba is an idiot of the first order. Why should I vote for him? Does he care for people like me – general caste, economically secure individuals? He hates our existence and blames us for things we haven’t even done (read oppression of various types). He would rather take my money and give it to others. He wants to give seats in great educational institutes away to completely undeserving folks because of its their birth right apparently. I line in Karnataka. Everytime Siddaramaiah is CM, kannada is hailed as greatest language on earth and activism starts even though non kannadigas are contributing to the economy. Do I ride those free buses? No. Do I use the roads that those buses use? Yes. Do I get any benefit in terms of infra, metro? No. Do I have to see mosques all around springing up and hijabi kids running around? Yes. No reason to like Congress or regional parties who stand for muslims and lazy ass folks. They want me to feel sorry that I exist. They won’t get my vote.
Hello Mr.Gupta, Fantastic article as always.
However I disagree with your reason for widespread middle loyalty towards Modi.
I don’t think it is love. It is a lack of an alternative.
Across India, find me another political alternative that is against freebies and oriented towards building long-term infrastructure and fostering growth, and I believe the middle class will jump ship in a second.
Other political parties are worse than BJP and thus having no other option, we the middle class, are sticking with BJP for now. Atleast I am.
After 10+ years comparisons don’t matter
Nda was aupposed to be minimal govt max governance. Nothing has changed.
Poor infra in cities, no facilities for tax payers, can not depend on govt deptts to do their job
Tax slabs are not adjusted for inflation and there are multiple taxes on same money as income then expense
At same time corporations are given 2 lakh crore tax break for zero outcomes
As a BJP fan, I can vouch for what the analyst has written here about the ground realities. True, the picture is not rosy and the government is not doing enough to solve the issues. But the reason given for the issue of overlooking the BJP failure by middle class is completely wrong.
He believes that people votes for BJP because it serves their Hindusim interests; best, which is entirely fallacious. People vote for BJP due to the fear of Congress or any other party which are more susceptible to corruption and failures in comparison to BJP.
True, as a BJP voter, I am very much unhappy with the party on many issues but same time I see Congress or any other party ; a threat on whatsoever we are doing good at. They don’t inspire any confidence in people but to a large extend, BJP/Modi does. Yes, Hinduism is an added recipe, BJP serves but that is not enough to convince a voter for the party.
This country needs a party with better leaders than BJP then only BJP will lose. And a Pappy, a Kejriwal, a Yadav or a Mamata doesn’t fit the bill.
Mr gupta just compare how much extra tax you or we are paying from previous government.
There is also the question of legacy. What endures when the passions of the moment are spent. There are so many things for which Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru will be evaluated generously by history. For our family, IIM A , part of the vision which created the IITs and IIMs, which allowed bright Indians to succeed all over the world, on a scale that could not have expected for a poor country emerging from two centuries of colonial rule. Now we have women advancing the birth of their children by C section, to beat President Trump’s deadline for citizenship by birth.
Can’t argue with the diagnosis. Middle class is happy to be fleeced as long as the itch of islamophobia is scratched. Atleast the “captive” Muslim votebank is able to extract concessions from the Congress, the middle class gets only scorn and pity from their masters. The budget will undoubtedly be another nail on their coffin.
Oppressive taxes? You must be joking. Which taxes are oppressive in Modi era vis-a-vis earlier years? Please provide comparison. Or, apologise for misinformation.
Your artificial love for Middle class is more of Modi hatred than any affection for middle class. This revdi freebies was infact started by regional parties and manifesto of Cong is even worse when it comes to freebies. So even if one agrees with you, alternative is even worse.
Comment section everywhere is filled with radicalised and frustrated right wing creatures. It’s like har shaakh par ullu baitha hai and the horrible anjaam e gulistan we are witnessing today.
Again and again, journalists cannot fathom the idea that anyone earning Rs. 12 lakhs a year+ in India are not middle class. At the best estimate they are less than 5% of the population. There is no way they can influence the outcome of any election. The best they can do is influence the way other classes vote but here again they have lost their influential power because they have so completely disengaged themselves from politics as to be irrelevant.
Such a well articulated article. Brought out the feelings of a middle class person beatifully
Super touched by author’s extra superficial concern for Indian middle class. It is more of Modiphobia than concern for middle class.
Many have gone paranoid over mere existence of Modi, SG being one of them. Mere thought of Modi can cause constipation to likes of him. I wonder if they can perform their daily morning biological functions without cursing/abusing Modi.
Mr Gupta is more worried about the middle class folks than they themselves are. What a sad state of affairs today. Anyways a nice enough article to read. Kudos.
Middle class is addicted to Modi, India is addicted to ten-a-penny socialism.
Middle class likes him because Rahul baba is an idiot of the first order. Why should I vote for him? Does he care for people like me – general caste, economically secure individuals? He hates our existence and blames us for things we haven’t even done (read oppression of various types). He would rather take my money and give it to others. He wants to give seats in great educational institutes away to completely undeserving folks because of its their birth right apparently. I line in Karnataka. Everytime Siddaramaiah is CM, kannada is hailed as greatest language on earth and activism starts even though non kannadigas are contributing to the economy. Do I ride those free buses? No. Do I use the roads that those buses use? Yes. Do I get any benefit in terms of infra, metro? No. Do I have to see mosques all around springing up and hijabi kids running around? Yes. No reason to like Congress or regional parties who stand for muslims and lazy ass folks. They want me to feel sorry that I exist. They won’t get my vote.
Hello Mr.Gupta, Fantastic article as always.
However I disagree with your reason for widespread middle loyalty towards Modi.
I don’t think it is love. It is a lack of an alternative.
Across India, find me another political alternative that is against freebies and oriented towards building long-term infrastructure and fostering growth, and I believe the middle class will jump ship in a second.
Other political parties are worse than BJP and thus having no other option, we the middle class, are sticking with BJP for now. Atleast I am.