Telangana government to present its first Budget today

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is all set to present its first power-packed Budget of the newly-crafted state. The Budget session will begin on Wednesday and would be held for about a month. The state government plans to convene the House in the evenings and Saturdays as well to give more time to debate.

The Telangana government would like to change certain Acts, which are in force since Telangana is a new state, a government release had said earlier. TRS goes to the Assembly with a brute majority as several Opposition MLAs and MLCs joined the party at regular intervals after the 2014 general elections. While the Opposition is preparing to attack the government, the ruling party too is geared to take them on.

Finance minister Etela Rajender will present the Telangana State government’s first budget with priority to electoral promises, welfare schemes and developmental projects in the Assembly. Deputy Chief Minister T. Rajaiah will present the Budget in the Legislative Council simultaneously.

The TRS’ strength, which was originally 63 MLAs in the House of 119 after the 2014 general elections has now shot up to 72 MLAs due to defections from  BSP, Congress and the TD. The TRS strength in the Legislative Council too has shot up ensuring complete control of both Assembly and Council leaving a fractured Opposition further decimated.

The Opposition is determined to grill the TRS government over the power crisis, farmers’ deaths, one lakh loan waiver scheme, two-bed room houses for weaker sections among other issues. Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao has convened a cabinet meeting in the Assembly premises on Wednesday at 10 am to approve the Budget and the session will start from 11 am. Opposition Telugu Desam, Congress, BJP and other parties are at draggers drawn to attack the TRS government and the strong TRS team too is gearing up to hit back.