New Delhi:  Budget 2015 was as much about some good old politics as it was about embarking on economic reforms.

With Bihar going to polls later this year, Mr Jaitley announced that it will continue to receive special assistance from the Centre. And despite already being allotted an AIIMS in Bihar, the Finance Minister announced "an AIIMS-like institution."

West Bengal, a focus state for the BJP, is the other state to have been accorded this favor ahead of next year's elections.

In the Lok Sabha elections, Assam rewarded the BJP with half of the Lok Sabha seats. BJP's return gift was the announcement of setting up AIIMS, a top of the line government hospital.

Punjab, another poll bound state ruled by an ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), too got an AIIMS.

NDA's latest ally, the PDP, too has been kept happy as Jammu and Kashmir has got an AIIMS and an IIM. Andhra Pradesh, ruled by ally TDP, too has got an IIM.

BJP ally and Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, "Bihar has now got two AIIMS and also a special package, like Andhra Pradesh."

Ram Kirpal Yadav, Union Minister from Bihar, an old aide of Lalu Prasad Yadav, said, "We had promised in elections and we have delivered on our promise and it will help us in the future as well."

PMO's junior minister Jitender Singh too welcomed his government's decision to announce an AIIMS and an IIM for his home state, Jammu and Kashmir.

But as ministers and allies praised Mr Jaitley's first full Budget, but some of their own did have concerns. Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, BJP's trade union wing, called the budget "disappointing", and SAD wasn't happy at Punjab not being given special status. "Punjab has been kept away from getting special status. Punjab needed it the most," said Chandumajra, an Akali MP in the Lok Sabha.
 
The Opposition termed it a corporate budget, arguing that's there's nothing in it for the middle class. "It's a payback Budget to the corporate sector, a 'dhan wapsi budget'. The Finance Minister talked about Indian economy flying high but it should end in a crash landing for the people," said Sitaram Yechury of the CPI(M).

Congress leader and former Union Minister of State Shashi Tharoor said while the Budget speech of the Finance Minister sounded well intentioned, he said, "They are talking about insurance of two lakh rupees. But where will they get the money?"