Karnataka is one of the few states to have revenue surplus for four years consecutively, according to Finance Minister P Chidambaram during a debate in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. “I congratulate all governments of Karnataka for this performance,” he said. Karnataka achieved this feat after the Fiscal Responsibility Act was passed in 2002.
But former deputy chief minister B S Yeddyurappa did not get any credit for reducing farm interest rate to four per cent and  Chidambaram made no mention about it. Instead, the Finance Minister said interest rate was reduced jointly by the contributions of the Centre, State and NABARD.
Chidambaram also pooh-poohed BJP members for
criticising him got not giving much allocation to Bang
alore. “Funds for Bangalore has crossed Rs 4500 crore, and hence people from other parts of Karnataka may complain,” he said.
“We gave by way of the National Urban Renewal Mission Rs 700 crore to Bangalore. The Cauvery drinking water programme gets Rs 375 crore, assistance to the BBMP Rs 350 crore and PWD 240 crore. We’ve given Bangalore Metro Rs 200 crore, BIAL Rs 93 crore and for traffic management Rs 38 crore,” he explained. 
He shot back at BJP MPs with his reasons for giving only Rs 5 crore for the Metro airport link. “This amount was for inviting bids to make special purpose vehicle. There is no point in providing money to the project at this stage,” he said.
Vote on account
“I asked for it (vote on account) because I don’t know when the election would be held. I am providing for every contingency. If an election is held in two months, the new government can present the budget,” Chidambaram said.
Moreover, he said the Congress was not responsible for this situation.
Budget passed
“Those who were responsible for the collapse of the last government were most vocal and critical of this budget,” he said. “I was amused to hear that all  good things done under BJP leader B S Yeddyurappa have been continued, but BJP MPs also say it is anti-people. How can the two go together?” he asked.
Later, the Lok Sabha passed the budget presented by the Finance Minister.