The state budget hides more than it reveals and lacks credibility and substance, says YSRCP leader Buggana Rajendranath Reddy. | Photo credit: File Photo
Former Finance Minister and YSRCP leader Buggana Rajendranath Reddy has described the Andhra Pradesh state budget for 2026-2027 as a “pack of lies”, saying it hides more than it reveals and lacks credibility and substance.
The former finance minister accused the coalition government of increasing claims and manipulating numbers in the media on Saturday.
“The format of the budget document has been altered to avoid the mandatory 10-year comparative financial data, thereby disguising the state’s fiscal performance. Although the government has highlighted higher growth rates compared to the Centre, the corresponding revenue growth does not support such claims, raising doubts about the authenticity of the projections,” he said.
Citing the Jal Jeevan Mission as an example, he said while the Center has reportedly spent around ₹8,500 crore nationally, the state government claims to have spent ₹10,000 crore and it is “disputable”, he said.
The significant difference between last year’s revenue figures and the revised estimates raises questions about how the government plans to bridge the shortfall in the last quarter, he said.
According to him, none of the election promises of the coalition have been fulfilled, while the public debt has reportedly crossed ₹ 3 crore without being transparently reflected in the budget.
Farmers, students, women and unemployed youth have been neglected, he claimed and contrasted the current regime with the YSRCP tenure, claiming better fiscal management and 9% growth rate despite the COVID-19 crisis.
Published – 14 Feb 2026 19:34 IST