NDA govt likely to continue with the practice of tabling vote on account

The DMK had submitted a memorandum to the Speaker, urging him to direct the government to discard the practice of presenting interim budget

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is likely to continue with the decade-old practice of presenting an interim budget to meet the expenditure requirements for the first few months of a new financial year.

According to a source, like in the past, the government will seek approval of the Legislative Assembly for a vote on account during this month to meet its day-to-day financial commitments for the first few months of the next financial year. With the current financial year coming to an end this month, the government has to plan the expenditure requirement for the next financial year and get the approval of the House.

“We are likely to present a vote on account in the coming days and present a full budget in the course of next fiscal,” a government source told The Hindu.

The Centre had already set aside ₹1,729 crore for 2022-23 as financial assistance for the Union Territory.

The principal Opposition, DMK, had submitted a memorandum to the Speaker urging him to direct the government to discard the practice of presenting interim budget and asked to table a full budget in the Assembly. If the NDA goes ahead with a vote on account, it will be the eleventh one in successive years.

According to a financial expert on the Union Territory affairs, though the government may have its own considerations of presenting a vote on account, the practice would hamper continuity in development works. “Presenting a full budget for seven to eight months of a financial year will certainly lack vision. It will only remain an expenditure statement and affords no room to plan much on capital expenditure which is must for Union Territory to generate growth and employment opportunity,” he said.

The reason for preferring a vote on account could be because of the uncertainty on the GST compensation due for the Union Territory. Since it is the last year of the GST compensation, the government could be anticipating a good settlement.