Lucknow, Feb. 9 -- The Yogi Adityanath government's budget for 2026-27 the last full one before the 2027 assembly elections, is being seen as crucial one two counts as it offers the ruling BJP the final opportunity to fulfil pending promises from the 2022 Sankalp Patra and is also expected to carry a populist imprint. As several pre-poll promises are partially implemented, the forthcoming budget is expected to serve as a vehicle to push these commitments, allocate funds and fast-track delivery ahead of the next electoral contest. The government, experts believe, may prioritise welfare schemes, subsidies, and sector-specific incentives aimed at key voter groups, while projecting the budget as a consolidation of its governance record over the past five years. "This year, the budget is being prepared ahead of 2027 UP Assembly elections. It may focus on farmers, youth and women alongside the poor segment of the population," Shashi Kant Pandey, a political scientist, said. The key populist promises made in the 2022 manifesto and not implemented yet include providing free transportation to women above 60 years of age in UPSRTC buses, connecting all villages to a bus service. The government is believed to be making budgetary allocations for the same with the UPSRTC having already sent the demand. The BJP's 2022 Sankalp Patra had promised to raise the monthly pension for senior citizens, widows and persons with disabilities from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500. The government increased it to Rs 1,000 just weeks before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and ahead of the 2027 assembly polls it is expected to raise the pension to the promised Rs 1,500 per month in the budget. Officials in the social welfare, women welfare and divyang welfare departments confirmed the additional budget to raise the pension to Rs 1,500 per month has been sought. Welfare schemes such as free electricity to farmers, two free LPG refills a year to Ujjawala beneficiaries are believed to be certain to continue and get allocation in the budget this year too. The last budget did earmark funds for the Rani Laxmi Bai Mahila Shaktikaran Yojana seeking to distribute scooters free of cost to meritorious girl students who have passed Class 12 and are seeking admission in a college but the distribution never happened. The budget, this year, may again allocate funds for this scheme with the government ensuring distribution in the poll year. Phase-1 B of Lucknow Metro is also all set to get budgetary allocation with the housing department having already sent a proposal for the funds....