The process of preparing a “new budget” of the Janata Dal (Secular)–Congress coalition government has been set rolling by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, with the announcement of the schedule of pre-budget meetings with Ministers and heads of various department, starting from this Thursday.
This comes amid divergent views expressed by the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Mr. Kumaraswamy over the presentation of the budget. While Mr. Siddaramaiah has suggested there is no need to present a new budget and that a supplementary budget would do for the coalition government, Mr. Kumaraswamy has told reporters in New Delhi that a supplementary budget would not help the new government to set the goals.
Detailed schedule of the pre-budget meetings, released by the Chief Minister’s office on Sunday, described it as a “new budget”, contrary to Mr. Siddaramaiah’s argument.
The release also has a copy of the note sent to Ministers to adjust their travel schedules accordingly. The Chief Minister’s office has informed the Ministers that it may not be possible to change or reschedule the pre-budget meetings.
In a separate note sent from the Finance Department, heads of various departments have been asked to provide details of the new schemes announced in the 2018–19 budget by Mr. Siddaramaiah in February and also their financial implications. Besides this, the Chief Minister has also sought a list of programmes/schemes that could be dropped; schemes/programmes that could face reduction in funds; and schemes/programmes that require re-prioritised funding.
As per the schedule made available to the press, the budget meetings will start with the Department of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday, followed by meetings with the departments of Medical Education, Water Resources, Primary and Secondary Education, Revenue, Skills Development, and Labour. The consultation will end on June 30. Besides meeting with Ministers and department heads, Mr. Kumaraswamy will also be meeting senior police officials and farmers’ leaders as part of the budget meetings.
CM has absolute authority to decide on budget: Revanna
Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna on Sunday maintained that “the Chief Minister has absolute authority over presenting the State Budget”.
He told reporters in Belagavi, “Mr. Kumaraswamy can decide if he wants to present a fresh budget or not. You can ask him if he would present it or not. I will not comment on it.” He also asserted that Mr. Kumaraswamy would be the Chief Minister for the full term of the coalition government.
