THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: BJP state president K Surendran said that the first budget of the second Pinarayi government presented by Finance Minister KN Balagopal was disappointing. According to Surendran, the re-announcement of the Rs 20,000 crore financial package, a major fraud introduced in the last budget, is a challenge to the people. Surendran also demanded that the finance minister clarify how much money was spent under the financial package.

Surendran said all this package is "humbug and there is nothing which shows from where the sources of revenue are going to be generated".

"All this package is coming from the revenue deficit grant of the Centre which is around Rs 19,500 crore.

"In Karnataka what one saw was direct cash transfer to the accounts of labourers and auto rickshaw drivers, while in Kerala nothing of that sort is there.

"The only thing that happens in Kerala is dressing up of central schemes. The budget is disappointing," said Surendran.