Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday that his government will call a five-day budget session of the Delhi Assembly beginning March 6.
This year’s budget is expected to be underlined by significant allocations to the education and health sectors — much like last year.
The session will commence with a speech by Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal. The budget is expected to be presented on March 7 or 8.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Mr. Kejriwal at his official residence in north Delhi’s Civil Lines. The education and health sectors are likely to take big chunk of the AAP government’s financial allocations for the following fiscal with sources claiming that as much as 25% of the total budget was likely to be dedicated to education.
The AAP dispensation is also likely to provide “sufficient funds” to mohalla sabhas where local residents can have a say in developmental works in their respective areas on a priority basis.
Asked about the Opposition’s allegation that his government may influence voters in the municipal polls scheduled in April by presenting its budget, Mr. Kejriwal said that the State Election Commission had so far not issued any notification on the civic polls.
The Chief Minister also took a dig at the Centre for not accepting the demands of the Opposition to defer the Budget session of Parliament in the wake of elections in several States.
“We have not asked the State Election Commission to wait for our budget, but they (the Centre) had asked the Election Commission to wait for their Budget and announce poll dates accordingly,” Mr. Kejriwal said.
