Putting an end to speculations, the Haryana government on Friday finally decided to present the budget estimates for 2014-15 financial year in the upcoming session of the assembly from February 21. Chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the council of ministers has decided not to present a vote on account.
The council of ministers had in its previous meeting extensively debated whether the government should present a full-fledged budget or go in for a vote on account. However, the decision was kept pending till Friday's meeting.
The move is laden with political overtone as it clearly indicates that the Congress-led state government would not like to go for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls. The term of the present House expires on October 27, 2014. The decision to opt for budgetary estimates instead of a vote on account will also allow the ruling Congress to send a message to the electorate that they are confident of staying in power in the state.
It is a common practice for governments to present a vote on account, a special provision by which the government obtains the vote of the House for a sum sufficient to incur expenditure for a part of the financial year, in an election year. Assembly polls in Haryana are likely to be held in September-October 2014.
The vote on account allows the government to have enough finances at its disposal to allow to function and run the administration till a full fledged budget is passed by the assembly. The government tables the estimated expenditure and funds required to meet it. The vote on account is normally taken for two months but the period may exceed in an election year.
{{/usCountry}}The vote on account allows the government to have enough finances at its disposal to allow to function and run the administration till a full fledged budget is passed by the assembly. The government tables the estimated expenditure and funds required to meet it. The vote on account is normally taken for two months but the period may exceed in an election year.
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