Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Wednesday presented the budget for 2011-12 amid pandemonium and non-stop slogan-shouting by opposition legislators.

The opposition started shouting anti-government slogans as Pawar, who is also the state's finance minister, rose to present his maiden budget. His speech lasted nearly one-and-half hours.

The ruling Democratic Front government was accused of presenting a populist budget with an eye to voters and favouring constituencies of legislators of the Congress and its ally the Nationalist Congress Party.

Ignoring the opposition din, Pawar calmly continued his budget speech, though he remained inaudible for most part of his presentation.

Pawar said the budget was prepared keeping uppermost the hopes and aspirations of the common man.

"The common man is reeling under inflation and experiencing hardships in view of the price rise. The budget has been made taking these aspects into consideration," Pawar said.

He added that even the union budget presented last month was based on similar principles.