Mumbai's ₹80,952-crore BMC budget sparks 94-hour debate and opposition walkout
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) approved its 2026-27 budget early Friday morning after a marathon 94-hour debate. Worth Rs. 80,952.56 crore, the budget session marked the first full meeting of elected corporators in nearly four years, ending a period of administrator-led rule. Opposition parties, however, staged a walkout in protest over claims of unfair fund distribution. The budget session began with opposition leaders raising concerns over financial management. Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi pointed out that only Rs. 70 crore of the Rs. 2,000 crore allocated for civic amenities had been spent in the last four years. MNS group leader Yashwant Killedar added that the state government still owed the BMC Rs. 10,998 crore in pending dues.
Opposition members, led by Shiv Sena (UBT), demanded stricter fiscal discipline and a fairer share of development funds. Their protests culminated in a walkout before the final vote. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Amey Ghole defended the administration, stating that development work had continued without increasing taxes during the administrator-led period.
BJP leader and Leader of the House Ganesh Khankar explained that fixed deposits had been used to fund key infrastructure projects, including road concretisation. For the first time in BMC history, the entire 12-day session was live-streamed, allowing public access to the proceedings. The budget was passed at 1.16 a.m. on Friday, following days of heated discussions. The session also signalled the return of elected representatives after a long gap under administrator rule. Opposition demands for greater transparency and equitable fund allocation remain unresolved.
