Amidst expectations of populist announcements by the ruling AIADMK government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls this summer and fears of rising financial crunch, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam (also holding the Finance portfolio) is scheduled to present the State Budget for 2019-20 in the Assembly on Friday.
The speech of the Finance Minister is expected to go on for about two hours.
The Pongal gift of ₹1,000 for a ration card announced during the last Assembly session in January and the huge amount of funds spent on Cyclone Gaja relief operations might be the largest parts of expenditure, which is expected to reflect in the budget.
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The budget session may also see the Opposition raise the Kodanad estate heist-cum-murder case, legal developments in the closure of Sterlite Copper plant, shortage of drinking water in various places across the State and the temporarily withdrawn strike by the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers’ Organisations and Government Employees' Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) among others. On Friday, the Business Advisory Committee of the House would discuss and finalise the schedule and duration of the budget session. After a debate on the budget speech of the Deputy CM for a few days, Mr. Panneerselvam would give his reply to the debate in the House on the last day of the session.
Not notified
As on date, 21 seats in the House are vacant including the seats earlier held by 18 disqualified MLAs, the ones held by deceased legislators M. Karunanidhi and A.K. Bose and the seat held by former Minister P. Balakrishna Reddy [vacancy not notified] following his conviction in a criminal case.
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