BJP leaders on Wednesday exuded confidence that the last full budget before the 2024 general election will help the party strengthen its political footprint and generate a favourable momentum, pointing to the income tax changes as a significant effort to sway the influential middle class.

“The middle class has been a core backer of the BJP for a long time now and this is for the first time in years that the budget has extended a direct relief to them by increasing the tax exemption limit from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh,” a BJP leader said.

The relief applies only to those taxpayers who opt for the new tax regime.

“The increase in Income Tax exemption limit to Rs 7 lakhs and several other tax-related reforms will provide a huge relief to the middle class including the salaried individuals and retired people,” defence minister Rajnath Singh tweeted.

BJP leaders said the PM Vishwakarma Kaushal Samman, promising skilling and credit support for traditional artisans and craftsmen, would also help the party.

“There are some 140 different castes spread across the country under the broad Vishwakarma category. The BJP has already made big inroads among the poor and this initiative will help us deepen our reach,” a BJP leader said.

Party leaders said the existing welfare schemes like free foodgrain to the poor, cash support for marginal farmers and houses and toilets under the PM Awas Yojana had already given them a strong foothold among the poor and hoped the budget would help expand the reach.

“The only challenge we face is on the job front. Lack of enough jobs for youths is a reality and we hope this budget, with a huge increase in capital expenditure, will generate more jobs ahead of the polls next year,” a BJP leader said.