Virbhadra to present record 15th state budget

Shimla, Mar 3: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singhwill present a record 15th state budget and fifth in a row during theCongress Government's present tenure in the HP Vidhan Sabha here onMonday.

Mr Singh, when he presents this year's budget on Monday, wouldperhaps be the only state Chief Minister and Finance Minister in thecountry to have presented 15 budgets in five tenures spanning over 20years.

While he presented six budgets in a row between 1984 and 1989after becoming the state Chief Minister in 1983, four of his budgetswere presented between 1994 and 1998 after the Congress Governmentreturned to power following the dismissal of the Shanta Kumar led BJPGovernment after the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992.

The Chief Minister had already presented four budgets in a rowduring his present tenure and the Monday's budget would be his 15thoverall and fifth in a row.

In comparison, former Union Minister and CM Shanta Kumar haspresented six budgets in two tenures, former Chief Ministers P K Dhumalfive in a row from 1998 and Ram Lal Thakur four consecutive budgetsfrom 1980 onwards.

Mr Kumar had presented three budgets in a row in 1977, 1978 and 1979 and three again in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Mr Singh, who is one of the most popular leaders of the state, isoptimist of returning to power after the next assembly elections thatare due in February 2008.

UNI

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