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The opposition in Maharashtra on Friday targeted the Eknath Shinde government over its last budget before the state goes to the polls later this year, describing it as a "torrent of assurances" but said there was no clarity on how the money will be raised for the schemes announced. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, earlier in the day presented a Rs 20,051 crore revenue deficit budget in which he announced sops for women, youth and farmers and other segments of society that entail an outlay of more than Rs 80,000 crore. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said the budget was a "false narrative" pretending to offer something to every section of society. Talking to reporters at the legislative complex here, the former chief minister said the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' scheme under which a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 would be given to the eligible women was a "pitiable attempt" to woo women voters ahead of the assembly elections. Thackeray ..
Kerala's cash-strapped state-run transport corporation, which is looking for diversified means for its survival, has now come out with a budget-friendly pilgrim tour package focussing on the epic Mahabharatha to woo common passengers and tourists. The new package, announced by the budget tourism cell of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), offers travel buffs and pilgrims a cost-effective opportunity to visit the famed Pancha Pandava Temples in the southern state and also to take part in the famous 'Valla Sadhya', the ritualistic feast being served at the Parthasarathy Temple in Aranmula. The pilgrim tour is organised in collaboration with various devaswoms (temple managements) and Palliyoda Seva Samithis, outfits which manage the boats and rituals in connection with the Vallasadya, under the tagline "A Pilgrimage through the History of Mahabharatha." The KSRTC management on Wednesday announced the package and invited interested persons to pre-book their travel from