BJP presents first budget down South

Bangalore, Jul 17: BJP will be presenting its first Budget down South. The Budget Session of the new Karnataka Assembly will commence here on Thursday, July 17.

State Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa, who is also the Finance Minister, will present a fresh state budget. It is indicated that agriculture and farmers welfare will figure prominently in the budget, including the promise to supply free power to the pumpsets of farmers. The 11-day budget session is likely to be a stormy affair for the ruling party as it has to face the 103-member strong Opposition - Congress and Janta Dal (Secular) - which has geared up to attack the government for "engineering defections" and other issues. The Budget Session will conclude on July 31.

Earlier, a vote-on-account budget valid for four months (until July 31) was presented in the Lok Sabha during the President's Rule in the state.

ANI