Finance Minister Buggana to present Andhra Pradesh Budget with a likely outlay of ₹2.6 lakh crore

Since this will be the last full-fledged budget of the YSRCP government before the 2024 Assembly polls, all are keen to know the allocations.

Next year, the government will be tabling a vote on account just months ahead of the general elections

The government has been under fire for the meagre spending and budgetary allocations for the state’s development.

Major allocations likely for Navaratnalu

The budget is likely to announce major allocations for welfare schemes under the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government’s flagship agenda, Navaratnalu.

The previous budget had an outlay of ₹2,56,256 crore, and nearly 42 percent of the funds were earmarked for various welfare schemes.

The top priority in 2022-23 was given to social service sectors with an allocation of ₹1,13,340 crore.

The education sector was provided ₹30,077 crore, health ₹15,384.26 crore, urban development ₹8,796 crore, and social security ₹4,331.85 crore.

It is also expected that the government may announce the public debt, liabilities such as guaranteed and non-guaranteed loans raised by state-owned corporations, and pending government bills and payments.

Opposition parties have been alleging that the state’s debt and liabilities have soared to ₹9 lakh crore. The government is concealing the information, they said.

Also read: A section of AP government staff begins protest demanding dues

The schedule

The joint session of the AP Legislative Assembly and Council will commence at 10 am on Tuesday with the Governor’s address.

The motion of condolences will be introduced on Wednesday, 15 March, followed by a discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s speech.

It is learnt that the session would be held for 13 working days. However, a final decision on the agenda and number of working days will be decided in the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting that will be held later.

The Andhra Pradesh state Cabinet would meet on Tuesday before the Budget session to clear the Bills that will be introduced in the Assembly.

Also read: TDP misled people when in office, Buggana tells South First

Naidu to stay away, TDP in attack mode

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu will be staying away from the Assembly as per his vow that he would enter the House only as the chief minister.

Other members of the TDP are gearing up to corner the ruling party over several issues like public debt, price rise, law and order and the recent attacks on party leaders and cadres.

The ruling party leaders are arming themselves with relevant data, statistics, and evidence to counter the TDP attack.

During the previous Assembly sessions, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had given detailed presentations in the House on several issues that were raised by the opposition.