While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her historic ninth consecutive Union Budget on Sunday, February 1, 2026, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, chose to remain tight-lipped.
Exiting the Parliament alongside his sister and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi declined to give an immediate reaction to the media. “I will speak tomorrow, using the platform provided by Parliament,” he told reporters, indicating that his detailed critique will come during the official Budget debate.
Other Opposition Reactions
While the Gandhi siblings deferred their comments, other senior Opposition leaders did not hold back. They largely criticized the Budget as “insipid” and lacking transparency.
Jairam Ramesh (Congress): Called the Budget “completely lacklustre” and “insipid,” noting that it failed to live up to the heavy expectations built over the preceding weeks.
Shashi Tharoor (Congress): Expressed disappointment over a “lack of overall vision,” comparing the speech to a series of subheadings without a cohesive reform agenda.
Mamata Banerjee (TMC): Slammed the Budget as “anti-people” and “anti-women,” claiming it offered nothing for West Bengal or the common man.
Akhilesh Yadav (SP): Criticized the government for ignoring farmers and the youth, alleging the Budget was designed only for “the elite 5%” of the country.