AAP govt to go ahead with full-fledged budget ahead of Delhi municipal elections

The Aam Aadmi Party was one of the most vocal critics of the decision of the Central government to go ahead with the budget on February 1.

In a departure from the past, the Arvind Kejriwal government is planning to go ahead with a full-fledged budget for the next financial year ahead of the municipal elections, a move being questioned by the Opposition.

The dates for the municipal elections are likely to be announced by mid March. Sources said the government was likely to convene the budget session in the second week of March. (PTI)

Ahead of the MCD elections in 2007 and 2012, the then Sheila Dikshit government had chosen to come up with a vote-on-account instead of a full-fledged budget.

While officials admitted that the issue was brought to the notice of the government in meetings related to the budget, an AAP functionary said the government was likely to go ahead with its plans.

The Aam Aadmi Party was one of the most vocal critics of the decision of the Central government to go ahead with the budget on February 1.

“There is nothing wrong in it. The budget will be passed before the municipal elections are notified and the model code of conduct sets in. We opposed the Central budget as it was being done when the model code of conduct for five states was already in place,” an AAP functionary said.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi assembly, Vijendar Gupta termed the decision “politically motivated”. “The government has failed on all fronts over the past two years. Now that the municipal elections are round the corner, they want to make some populist announcements in the budget,” Gupta said.