In what is being seen as a major political victory to the ruling BJP, the Legislative Assembly on Thursday gave its nod to 2013-14 budget presented by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar by passing the Karnataka Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2013.
The House gave its approval to the government to draw Rs 40,413 crore from the consolidated fund to be spent in the initial four months of financial year 2013-14.
Shettar managed to get approval to the budget in the face of KJP leader B S Yeddyurappa threatening to reduce the government into minority by making BJP MLAs loyal to him resign.
The KJP leader had made 12 of his loyal MLAs, including two cabinet ministers, resign ahead of the budget session. Though two more MLAs submitted their resignation letters, the Speaker did not process them nor did the MLAs insist on accepting them. Actually, one of two MLAs, Vittal Katakadonda, was present in the House when the Finance Bill was passed.
Wish fulfilled
The ruling party fulfilled its wish of presenting its last budget before the crucial Assembly elections likely to be held in May this year. By presenting a populist budget, Shettar has tried to woo all sections of society. What made Shettar’s job easy was the opposition parties’ decision not to move no-confidence motion against the government.
Opposition parties took this decision as they did not want to take the blame for toppling the Shettar government ahead of the polls. Both, the Congress and the JD(S), however, staged a walk out at the time of passage of the Finance Bill.
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