Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Wednesday said he was hopeful of getting an early clearance for presenting a full Budget from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Mr. Narayanasamy, who is camping in New Delhi, told The Hindu over telephone that he had personally met Joint Secretary in-charge for the Union Territory Govind Mohan and explained to him the position on the grant-in-aid expected from the Centre.
The Legislative Assembly had to be adjourned sine die on Tuesday after the Ministry of Home Affairs sought clarifications about the amount projected as grant-in aid from the Centre in the projected outlay approved by the State Planning Board. The Union Territory had projected ₹360 crore as grant-in-aid in the outlay for this financial year. “In my meeting with the Joint Secretary, I have explained to him the government’s position. I think he is convinced and we will get an early clearance for presenting the Budget,” he said.
May meet Rajnath
The Chief Minister said he had sought an appointment with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to apprise him of the situation.
The ruling Congress had received flak for the sudden adjournment of the House after it was reconvened on Monday to present the Budget.
The government had to pass a full Budget as the House had given expenditure sanction till July.
The Assembly had passed a vote-on-account for ₹2,466.66 crore during its one-day session on March 26. Subsequently, the State Planning Board, which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi on April 27, had recommended a plan outlay of ₹7,530 crore for the current fiscal.
In the last Assembly elections, the ruling party had made it as poll plank against All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) for running an administration from 2011-16 by relying on vote-on-account. AINRC chief and then Chief Minister N. Rangasamy used to run the administration for the first six months of the financial year by presenting vote-on-account.
AINRC, which is the principal Opposition party, and the AIADMK have now sharpened their attack on the Congress for its dependence on vote-on-account.