Mahayuti calls it progressive, MVA terms it ‘contractor-friendly’

State cabinet minister and BJP Mumbai unit president Ashish Shelar said the budget is a testament to Mumbai’s progress. “The BMC budget is a complete proposition towards Mumbai’s development that will turn Mumbaikars’ dreams into reality. This is a holistic budget from every aspect as it has proposed infrastructure growth as well as environment sustainability,” Shelar said by posting a video on social media site X.

Varsha Gaikwad, Congress MP from Mumbai, criticised the budget saying it will benefit the contractor lobby. “Small businesses in Mumbai to be taxed, while contractors get a free run to loot the city. With one in two Mumbaikars living in slums, this is an economic assault. It will break the backbone of Mumbai’s economy,” Gaikwad said in a post on X.

“Several core sectors have been ignored as primary education has received only 1% of the total capital expenditure, while public health receives 5% of the capital expenditure,” Gaikwad said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA from Worli, Aaditya Thackeray also criticised the BMC’s move to impose tax rates on commercial establishments in slums. “The proposed tax on shopkeepers in slums is highly unjust, the MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray got rid of property tax up to 500 square feet, while now on the other hand the BMC is imposing a tax on shopkeepers on slum areas,” Aaditya said in a post on X. “The BMC has also proposed a user fee on picking garbage from all households,” his post added.