The last full-fledged budget session of the Manohar Lal Khattar Government in Haryana commencing on Wednesday is set to be a tumultuous affair, with the opposition parties — the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) — ready to confront the ruling saffron party on several issues, with an eye on ensuing Lok Sabha polls and Haryana Assembly polls scheduled to be held later this year.
Amid anticipation of the Haryana Government doling out sops for various sectors in its fifth and final budget in the midst of poll season, the budget session will begin on Wednesday with the customary address of the Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya.
While the Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya is expected to list out the Manohar Lal Government’s achievements over the last four-and-a-half years in Haryana, the opposition is seeking to put the Government on the mat over the issues of farmers’ distress, corruption, unemployment, law and order, employees’ grievances among others.
As per the tentative schedule, the session commencing on February 20 will continue till March 5 and the budget estimates for the year 2019-20 would be presented on February 26.
However, the Business Advisory Committee of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha will take the final call on the schedule of the Budget Session on Wednesday. The Budget Session will also set the tone for the 2019 general polls and State Assembly polls with the incumbent BJP Government planning to highlight its major achievementsm including crop insurance scheme, curbing corruption, recruitments in government and private sector, successful implementation of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, attracting investments, providing affordable housing besides major schemes of the Central Government.
A buoyant BJP, after its recent victories in Jind bypoll and municipal polls in five cities, is also expected to announce some populist schemes and projects in the last budget 2019-20.
Haryana has ten Lok Sabha seats and the general elections are due to be held in April-May 2019 while the assembly polls in Haryana are likely to be held in October this year.
In the run up to national elections, political one-upmanship is also expected to take primacy over the usual legislative business in the ensuing budget session. The INLD and the Congress are planning to make things tougher for the government by raising the issue of unfulfilled poll promises of the ruling BJP.
Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday said the BJP Government has failed on all fronts and the Congress will seek answers from the ruling party about around 154 promises made by the BJP in the previous polls.
Referring to the deaths due to the police firing during Jat reservation quota, Baba Rampal incident and Dera violence in the State, Hooda said that more than 70 people died in various riots in the State and there is no law and order situation in Haryana under the BJP’s regime.
“During the budget session, we will also question the government about the status of big promises made by the BJP related to implementation of Swaminathan report, providing two crore jobs among others,” the two-time former Chief Minister said.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will meet on Wednesday morning to devise the strategy for the budget session, he added.
On the other hand, Leader of opposition and INLD’s senior leader Abhay Singh Chautala has made it clear that his party will raise the issue of misuse of money and government’s machinery in Jind bypolls, won by the BJP last month.
The INLD had finished at poor fifth spot in the bypoll to Jind assembly segment, which the party had won the election in 2009 and 2014. Chautala said party will also raise the issue of Sultej Yamuna Link canal.
Commenting on the budget session, BJP Haryana chief and MLA from Tohana, Subhash Barala said, “We are hopeful that the fifth and final budget session of State Assembly would be productive.”
On budget estimates 2019-20, Barala said, “Unlike previous years, we expect that a tax-free budget focusing on expediting welfare schemes will be presented for people of Haryana.”
INLD likely to face tough time
INLD, which is Haryana’s main Opposition party is likely to face tough time during the Budget Session.
After demise of two INLD MLAs and recent defeat in Jind bypolls, the number of INLD MLAs in the 90-member State Assembly has fallen to 17 and four of them have already extended support to the Jannayak Janta Party, a splinter group of INLD.
These four MLAs including Naina Chautala will attend the House proceedings while they are unlikely to support the INLD on various issues inside the House.
However, there is no threat to Abhay Chautala’s position of Leader of opposition even as the Congress also has 17 MLAs in the house. After the victory in Jind bypoll, the BJP now has 48 MLAs in the House.
Hisar MP and JJP leader Dushyant Chautala had a day before made it clear that four MLAs who have joined the JJP will attend the House proceedings. They have submitted two calling attention motions including on crop damage due to heavy rainfall and hailstorm and medical scam during the BJP led State Government’s tenure, Dusyant had said.
Budget session,
Bills in line
According to the tentative plan issued by Haryana Vidhan Sabha, the session will begin on February 20 with Governor’s address and obituary references later.
Nine sittings are proposed to be held in the budget session which will continue till March 5. Non-official business is listed for February 21, discussion on Governor’s address on February 22, resumption of discussion on Governor’s address and voting on motion of thanks on February 25.
Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu will present the budget estimates for the year 2019-20 on February 26. Discussion on budget estimates is listed for February 27, February 28 will witness non-official business and Finance Minister’s reply and voting on budget estimates is scheduled on March 1. The last day of the budget session on March 5 is listed for legislative business.
Eyeing 2019 polls, the State Government is planning to table the Haryana Service Security of Guest Teachers Bill 2019 to regularise the services of about 14,000 guest teachers in Haryana. Apart from this, the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA) Amendment Bill, Haryana Service Rules of Engineers, Public Health and Engineering Amendment Bill, Haryana Law amendment Bill, Accountability of Public Finance Bill among others are likely to be tabled in Budget Session.
