Telangana Budget reviews in limbo as Finance Minister busy with son’s wedding

The State’s 2026-27 budget process has drawn criticism after review meetings were postponed and the session delayed. With Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka in Delhi, concerns have emerged over bureaucratic dominance and lack of ministerial oversight in budget planning.

Hyderabad: The State’s budget formulation process for 2026-27 has run into turbulence amid criticism that the Congress government is treating the exercise casually. At the centre of the controversy is Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, who is currently in Delhi inviting national leaders to his son Surya Vikramaditya’s wedding scheduled for March 5 in Hyderabad.

The government had announced department-wise review meetings from February 16 to 23 as part of pre-budget consultations. However, the reviews were reportedly postponed for two days, and only one session was held on February 18. Thereafter, Ministers and senior officials prioritised Delhi visits, leaving the review schedule largely unimplemented.

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Initially, the government indicated that the budget session would commence on February 26 and that the State Budget would be presented on February 28. After the Cabinet meeting on February 23, it announced that the session would instead be held next month, that is, from March 16 onwards.

With the Finance Minister away, officials are said to be steering much of the exercise. This has triggered concerns within political and administrative circles over whether the Budget is being shaped primarily by the bureaucracy without adequate involvement of elected representatives.

The delay comes at a time when the State faces financial constraints and must allocate funds for the Congress party’s six guarantees and other election promises. Opposition leaders and critics have argued that the absence of sustained ministerial oversight raises questions about fiscal priorities and planning. They fear that the Budget, which should serve as a roadmap for governance, faces the risk of being rushed without comprehensive reviews, undermining transparency and accountability.