The Shiv Sena on Tuesday claimed Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced big packages in the budget for some poll-bound states, and asked how right is it to use the budget as a "tool" to win elections. Accusing the Centre of setting a new trend of playing "dirty politics" for votes through the budget, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said the allocation of more funds to poll-bound states is a kind of "bribery".

It also accused the Centre of ignoring Maharashtra which, it said, contributes highest revenue to the Union government's coffers. Finance Minister Sitharaman presented the 2021-22 Union Budget on Monday. "...what is unfortunate is that the (central) government has set a new trend of playing dirty politics of votes through budget," the editorial said. The Assembly polls are due in West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Hence, the finance minister has allocated big packages and projects to these states, it said. The Marathi daily said new projects must be undertaken as they are required for development.