A clear picture on the strategy of the Narendra Modi government to stem the economic downturn and halt spiralling inflation will be available next week when it presents the first Railway and general budget in its second Lok Sabha session starting on Monday.
While Opposition parties have on record indicated that they would like to pin down the government on rising prices, in private they concede that the charge won’t stick beyond a point as the Congress-led UPA cannot escape responsibility as it was in power for the last 10 years.
Another bone of contention is the Congress’ demand to designate its leader in the Lok Sabha as the Leader of the Opposition though the party, with only 44 members, does not have the required strength [one-tenth] of the members in a House of 544.
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Though the issue did not figure at the customary floor leaders’ meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Saturday, indications from the ruling NDA are that it is firmly opposed to the proposal as the Congress has never conferred such a status on the leader of the second largest party in the House.
The Railway budget is scheduled to be presented on July 8 and the general budget on July 10.
After the meeting with the floor leaders, Ms. Mahajan said: “The session will have 28 sittings and 168 working hours.”
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