Budget 2018: Imprints of a govt unsure of second term with clear majority

Budget 2018 impact - Sleep metaphors have always been popular in describing central budgets. These are variously called “dream” or “nightmare” budgets, usually depending on which side you are on, in the government or the opposition. It would be reasonable to say, however, that the NDA government’s final full budget in this term is a “restless” budget.

We prefer restless, because “rattled” is too strong a description yet, although it is the budget put together by a worried, impatient government not as sure of a second term with a clear majority as might have been six months earlier.

The Gujarat election was a shock, the traction Rahul Gandhi has been getting since his latest return to active politics is a cause for concern, the latest India Today Mood of the Nation poll has shown for the first time that the BJP is still the front-runner to lead the next coalition but is unlikely to have a majority of its own.