The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Delhi government will present its budget for the financial year 2020-21 on Monday in a single day session, even as the city remains under lockdown due to coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The five-day assembly session has been curtailed to one day where the budget will be presented and passed.
Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, will present the budget.
Sisodia will table the Economic Survey and a report on the outcome of the previous budget, following which the Arvind Kejriwal-led government will present the first budget of its second consecutive term.
The budget is expected to focus on the guarantee card presented by Delhi chief minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in the run-up to elections. The card includes promises like reducing pollution in Delhi, ensuring a 24-hour supply of water and proper housing for those who don’t live in permanent structures.
This is the first time that a budget session will start without a customary speech by Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal and the budget will be presented and passed on the same day. The budget will be presented in uncertain times as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced that Delhi will be put under lockdown from 6 am on Monday to midnight on 31 March. The cases of COVID-19 have been increasing across the country. Currently, there are 329 cases of the disease in the country, of which 28 are from Delhi.
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Kejriwal said it was necessary to pass the budget as salaries needed to be paid.