Mayawati's second budget tomorrow; likely to be tax free

Lucknow, Feb 11 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati will present her second budget in the state legislature tomorrow, which is likely to be tax free.

The Bahujan Samaj Party government, which came to power in May, 2007, presented its first budget in June, 2007.

While the budget for the fiscal 2008-09 is by and large likely to be tax free, sources claimed the government was contemplating increasing its revenue through other means, including an increase in excise duties.

The Opposition had disrupted the speech of the Governor to the joint session of the legislature on Friday last, protesting imposition of the VAT regime from January 1.

The Chief Minister is also likely to explain the benefits of the VAT regime during her budget speech. The main opposition Samajwadi Party has already announced its intentions to disrupt the proceedings of the Budget session through ''democratic means'' to highlight the plight of the common man.

With the drought-hit Bundelkhand region of the state hogging limelight following visits by high-profile politicians, the CM is also likely mention the developmental schemes initiated by her government for the region. During her recent visit to Jhansi, she had announced various developmental schemes for the drought-hit region.

With the emphasis on infrastructure development, particularly in rural areas, and improving the social sector, Chief Minister Mayawati had presented the 2007 budget on June 29, 2007 which, for the first time in the state's history had exceeded Rs one lakh crore. The budget showed a revenue surplus of Rs 6,142 crore.

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