Assembly session likely next month, no full Budget presentation till monsoon

 

 

 

 

 

Second session of 16th State Assembly is likely to be held in the second week of February, although notification in this regard is yet to be issued. Concerned officials told ‘The Hitavada’ that session may be held from Feb 7 to 19. It will be the second Assembly session of Dr Mohan Yadav-led government. In this 12-day session, the Government won’t come up with a full Budget. It may present a vote on account and Supplementary Budget in view of Lok Sabha elections. For the upcoming session, the Vidhan Sabha Secretariat has started preparations and around 12 sittings are expected for the session. In this regard, a meeting between Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar has recently been held.

 

This time the Government will present the Vote on Account instead of the annual Budget for the financial year 2024-25. Necessary provisions will be included for the expenditure till June 2024. After this, the full budget will be presented in the monsoon session. Along with the Vote on Account, the government will present the second Supplementary Budget for the year 2023-24. In this, additional funds will be made available to the departments as per requirement.

 

The full Budget has been postponed due to the Lok Sabha elections. Lok Sabha elections are to be held this year, the code of conduct for which may come into effect in February or March. Therefore, the Government will bring a Vote on Account for three to four months’ expenditure. In the upcoming session, the Vote on Account of around Rs 13,000 crore will be presented. The first session of the 16th Assembly was held from December 18-21. During which newly-elected members took oath, elections of state Assembly Speaker and other necessary business of the house were transacted. Before the Assembly elections, the Shivraj Singh led government had passed the first supplementary budget in July.