Punjab presents vote on account, awaits new govt

FM Parminder Singh Dhindsa presented the Rs.25,292.96 crore vote on account before the state assembly for approval

Putting its bet on seeing a new NDA government at the centre after the April-May general election, the Punjab government Friday opted for a vote on account instead of a regular budget for four months (April 1 to July 31) this year.

Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa presented the Rs.25,292.96 crore vote on account before the state assembly Friday for approval.

The ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, which runs an alliance government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab since 2007, is a major constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

"Vote on account of the government of Punjab for the period April 1 to July 31 to meet the day to day expenditure of the various departments. The vote on account is based on the revised estimates for the current financial year and estimates for 2014-15.

"We will present a full budget for 2014-15 after the general elections in light of fresh and people-friendly policies of the new central government," Dhindsa said in his speech.

Punjab goes for general election on April 30. The state has 13 Lok Sabha seats.

Dhindsa said that Punjab's growth in 2013-14 was pegged at 4.7 percent compared to 4.47 growth of the country.

He said that the revenue deficit of Punjab was Rs.2,515 crore as compared to Rs.3,970 crore during the corresponding period of the previous year. "The state has achieved significant improvement in reducing its revenue deficit in the current financial year," he said.

Neighbouring state Haryana, which will see assembly polls later this year, opted for a regular budget this year. The state's 10 Lok Sabha seats go to polls April 10.