BENGALURU: Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai will present his maiden budget on March 4. “We are making all preparations for the state budget on March 4,” Bommai told reporters here on Tuesday.
With assembly elections just about 14 months away, the CM is expected to present a populist budget laced with welfare programmes. The budget will be his last opportunity to spell out the government’s policies and woo voters.
Bommai is expected to announce major allocations for irrigation projects to take the sting out of Congress’ campaign targeting the government for allegedly neglecting the sector. Congress wants to make this an election issue and has lined up related programmes.
It is expected that the CM will give more impetus to the farming community and Bengaluru city, which is likely to determine BJP’s fortunes at the BBMP polls expected to be held later this year. Bommai may also announce a scheme to regularise and upgrade B khata properties to A khata, apart from making a decent allocation for the Suburban Rail scheme.
CM to visit Delhi on Feb 25
Ahead of his budget presentation, Bommai is slated to visit Delhi, where he is scheduled to attend a taxation awards ceremony on February 26. The CM is scheduled to fly to Delhi on February 25 evening and stay overnight. He is expected to meet Union ministers and senior party functionaries.
Bommai may also meet BJP national president JP Nadda to discuss the hijab and flag-hoisting controversies.
His visit has triggered speculation that he may meet senior party functionaries to seek their permission for cabinet expansion/reshuffle “Even if the CM meets the central leadership during his Delhi visit, we expect the expansion to happen only after the budget session...,” party sources said.
