No Budget in February

By Vijay Kumar

IT is now clear that there would be no Budget presentation on February 28 as usual. The Government is planning an extended winter session of Parliament from February 5 to 21 and the vote on account is planned on February 17. So, there would be no budget exercises and the babus in North Block can relax. Of course this does not mean the Government cannot announce sops even without a budget.

There is going to be a constitutional crisis when Parliament meets on February 5. As per Article 87 of the Constitution, at the commencement of the first session of each year, the President is supposed to address a Joint sitting of both the Houses. But the BJP Government did not follow this provision in 2004. Will the President address the First session of the year and the last session of the present LokSabha?

And there is no TIOL Budget Run Up! - Not now.