The Hindu : Sankaranarayanan loses chance to get budget passed by March 31

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 20, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Sankaranarayanan loses chance to get budget passed by March 31

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 19. The Finance Minister, K. Sankaranarayanan, has lost the chance to become the first person holding the portfolio to get the full budget passed by March 31. The reason: the Assembly has decided to adjourn its current session on February 6 after passing a four-month vote-on-account in view of the impending Lok Sabha elections.

Several Finance Ministers in the past had aspired to get the budget passed before March 31, but this had rarely been realised. In the case of Mr. Sankaranarayanan, he was all set to present the budget on January 23. The date was chosen so that he would be in a position to go through the motions of examination by Subject Committee and get it passed by March 31, committed as he is under the Fiscal Responsibility Act passed by the House in its previous session.

The Finance Minister would now have to consider amending the Act to make a provision for the vote-on-account, which according to the schedule approved by the Business Advisory Committee of the Assembly, is scheduled to be passed on January 29.

In any case, the budget exercise, other than meeting constitutional obligations, would be meaningless in view of the fact that the Central budget would be delayed, according to the Finance Department officials. Besides, the Plan discussions would be held only in May and the Finance Minister would have to further amend his budget proposals in the light of the Central budget, they point out.

The early adjournment of the session, as decided by the Business Advisory Committee, would be a boon for the UDF Government politically. Given the current impasse in the Congress, it would save the political leadership from further undergoing the trauma of factional politics on the floor of the House.

The strained relations in the treasury bench could hardly be concealed on the opening day of the Assembly session today. The Karunakaran faction stayed away from participating in the debate for the motion of thanks to the Governor's address. Antony loyalists found it rather difficult to speak at length within the time allotted.

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