At the UPCC office, party workers and leaders joined in the celebrations to mark the day. Even UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi shook a leg with workers at the office premises.

“The UPA government has taken a revolutionary step by waiving off loans of the farmers. We are satisfied with the Budget. It fulfilled the promises that the UPA government had made four years ago,” Bahuguna told mediapersons. “Now, it is the responsibility of the state governments to ensure that the Budget benefits the people,” she added.

Bahuguna also congratulated Finance Minister P Chidambaran for providing various schemes for weavers. “Two mega centres will be created at Varanasi and Moradabad,” she said.

Bahuguna, however, refused to term it as an “election budget”. “Elections will take place, be it this year or some other year. But the party has fulfilled its promises,” she said. Other Congress leaders also echoed similar sentiments. “The farmers of Bundlekhand committed suicide as they were unable to repay their loans,” a leader said.

The BJP, however, expressed disappointment over the budget. “This Budget does not create scope for employment. It also lacks strategy to reduce the cost of agricultural products. There is no special budgetary provision to develop infrastructure for permanent irrigation facilities,” stated a press release issued by BJP.

The party added that waiving loans of farmers will not improve their condition. “The UPA government is still importing foodgrain. The present Budget will increase the number of poor people in the country,” it further said.

Former state minister and Samajwadi Party leader Ambika Choudhari said, “The farmers need better education and health, besides infrastructure for increasing agriculture production. This is a numaishee Budget before the election.”