Assembly passes vote on account for ₹3,613 crore

The interim Budget presentation saw strong protests from the Opposition members, who later staged a walkout

The Puducherry Legislative Assembly passed a vote on account for ₹3,613 crore on Wednesday amid a walk out by the principal Opposition, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Congress as a mark of protest against All India N.R. Congress-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s decision not to present a full Budget.

Continuing with the practice followed by successive governments from 2011 of presenting the vote on account, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy presented the interim Budget of ₹3,613 crore for the first five months of the next financial year.

The passing of the vote on account would enable the government to meet its committed expenditure, including the disbursement of salary, pensions and aid implementation of ongoing programmes. The government will have to present a full Budget by end of August or before making the amount allocated for the vote on account inclusive to the total budgetary outlay for 2022-23.

The presentation of interim Budget by the Chief Minister triggered strong protests from the Opposition. As soon as the Chief Minister rose to table the vote on account, members of the DMK and Congress were on their feet, holding placards carrying critical statements against the government.

Opposition leader R. Siva said people are seeking answers from the government for not presenting a full Budget despite the Centre setting aside a part of its financial assistance for Puducherry in the Union Budget for 2022-23.

He said the reliance of successive governments on vote on accounts to meet the expenditure requirements for the first few months of a financial year had cast a shadow on the development needs of the Union Territory. Every year, three to four months are wasted without the implementation of any new schemes, he added.

The Prime Minister, during Assembly election campaign, had predicted an all-round development of the Union Territory if a double engine government (same party or alliance at Centre and Puducherry) came to power, the Opposition leader said and added that now it seemed both engines (AINRC and its ally BJP) are going in different directions.