New Delhi : Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said that he is looking forward to announcements for Kerala in the Union Budget 2026-27 as the state is set to hold Assembly elections later this year.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Budget presentation, Tharoor flagged the issue of unemployment, saying, "jobless growth does not help anyone."

He said, "Looking forward to hearing what the Finance Minister has to tell us. The Economic Survey presents good economic growth, but a problem for young people in this country is whether the growth will be accompanied by jobs. Jobless growth does not help anyone. We are anxious to see what kind of schemes they have in mind. In Kerala, with elections coming up, we are keen to see what benefits the Central government might give us. Until the Budget is presented, it is difficult to talk."

The Economic Survey projected the real GDP growth rate at 7.4 per cent and the GVA growth rate at 7.3 per cent.

Earlier today, FM Sitharaman arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet President Droupadi Murmu carrying her trademark 'bahi-khata', a tablet wrapped in a red-coloured cloth bearing a golden-coloured national emblem on it.

Sitharaman is set to present her record ninth consecutive budget today at 11 am in the Lok Sabha.

ANI