Mayawati, BSP’s national president, took to X to voice her dismay. Traditionally, such addresses inspire with visions of progress and upliftment for all sections. This one fell short, ignoring the miseries inflicted by government missteps. Crores of UP residents grapple with economic hardships, joblessness, and mounting insecurity over safety and religious freedoms. ‘The Governor ought to have spotlighted these for governmental action, easing tensions that sparked slogan-shouting and chaos,’ she remarked.

Absence of timelines or progress reports on BJP’s welfare pledges deepened skepticism, a fix she suggested for the budget presentation.

Shivpal Yadav of SP skewered the event as the Governor endorsing a corrupt regime through ‘lavish, untruthful encomiums.’ Congress’s Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ called it a ‘pack of fabricated successes and hollow vows.’ The incomplete reading of the lengthy script underscored paper-only accomplishments.

Diving deeper, she exposed law enforcement failures: crime surges despite claims, corruption explodes, police vacancies persist in lakhs. Healthcare hype around medical colleges crumbles under scrutiny—no infrastructure, personnel, or supplies. Agriculture policies alienate farmers with untimely inputs.

Pre-session, Congress and allies staged a spirited demonstration against unemployment, price hikes, agrarian distress, healthcare collapse, and industrial concerns near Charan Singh’s statue.

This vocal dissent sets the tone for intense legislative confrontations, as opposition pushes for substantive governance over self-congratulation.