Jayant Patil tables 10th consecutive budget

Mumbai, Mar 19 (UNI) Maharashtra Finance Minister Jayant Patil today created a record by tabling the tenth consecutive budget for the state since 1999.

Mr Patil first assumed office as finance minister in 1999 and since then till date has tabled all the budgets, which is a record in Maharashtra.

Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who was earlier the finance minister in Maharashtra, had set a record of presenting nine consecutive budgets, but Mr Patil today broke that record.

Late Sheshrao Wankhede, who was also finance minister in the state, had presented over ten budgets but those were not tabled consecutively.

The usually ''Jodhpuri'' suit-clad Mr Patil today preferred to come clothed as a farmer, wearing a dhoti, kurta, and a Gandhi cap.

He commenced his speech with some couplets in Marathi in praise of farmers. However, the Opposition almost immediately raised slogans demanding complete loan waiver and blank 7/12 extracts for farmers.

UNI JM MAZ LS DS1543