Yeddyurappa to present budget for 2008-09 tomorrow

Bangalore, July 16 (UNI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had made inroads in the South by capturing power in Karnataka, will present its maiden Budget for 2008-09 in the State Legislative Assembly tomorrow.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who also holds Finance portfolio would table the Budget at 1200 hrs as the 11 day session begins.

Mr Yeddyurappa, during the coalition set up with JD-S as the deputy chief minister and finance minister had presented two budgets in 20-month period.

The Session is expected to be stormy as opposition parties are up in arms against ruling party's attempt to lure the members of opposition parties to secure simple majority in the house.

Five Legislators, Three from Congress and two from JD(S), have already joined the saffron party quitting their MLA posts. Three of them were made as ministers while one was made the chairman of a board of a corporation.

Mr Yeddyurappa who had consultation with cross sections of the society including representatives of industries, trade bodies, farmers, heads of education institutions and officials in preparing the BJP government's maiden budget was expected to announce the much awaited free power supply to farmers.

The 11-day budget session also expected to witness a stormy one on the issue of supply of fertiliser, the failure of monsoon rains and opposition demand for drought relief works.

Karnataka assembly speaker Jagadish Shettar has said that government will move two bills including an amendment bill to set up Horticulture University in the state. The members also have sought answer for as many as 370 questions from the state government.

The Karnataka Legislative Council, in which ruling party is a minority, would also meet from tomorrow and likely to witness a stormy session.

The opposition Congress and JD(S) likely to bring pressure on the ruling party to hold elections to both the posts of Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the house which are lying vacant. Senior JD(S) member N Thippanna was the acting Chairman of the house now.

UNI MSP/MV GM1445