Bengaluru: The cold war between JD(S)-Congress coalition coordination committee chairman Mr Siddaramaiah and CM H.D. Kumaraswamy is likely to intensify with Mr Kumaraswamy all set to present a full fledged budget next month. The CM has scheduled a nine day pre-budget meeting with heads of all department, starting from June 21.
Earlier on June 4, the government had issued a circular to all departments to prepare power point presentations for demands to be incorporated in the new budget, which would be presented in July. The circular had stated that the meetings would begin anytime after June 15.
On Saturday, Mr Siddaramaiah, who had batted for continuing the welfare schemes launched during his government’s tenure, had also said that there was no need for a new budget, as he had already presented one before the Assembly elections. He suggested that Mr Kumaraswamy could instead present a supplementary budget, which could incorporate the CM’s new schemes meant for the people.
However, the government has now issued a detailed department-wise schedule for these meetings beginning from June 21. The circular has also stated that the department secretaries, principal secretaries and additional secretaries must participate in the meetings unless there is a pre-scheduled tour programme.
