UP budget session to be stormy affair

Weakened Akhilesh to face resurgent BJP

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, under persistent fire for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, is gearing up to confront a determined opposition in the state assembly budget session beginning tomorrow.

The session is scheduled for legislative business between June 19 and July 18.

In past weeks, the government has been left to fend off criticism for the spate of rape and murder cases reported all over the state, including the pocket boroughs of the ruling Samajwadi Party.

In the recently-concluded Lok Sabha polls, the ruling SP has been reduced to a mere shadow with only members of the Yadav family managing to win their seats, numbering 5. This is a marked dwindle considering the SP tally of 23 secured in 2009.

The opposition parties, especially the resurgent Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), which had won 71 seats, would be gunning for the government as a prelude, premature though, towards the 2017 assembly polls.

Despite the drubbing in recent polls, where Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) failed to win even a single seat, the party remains the main opposition party in the assembly. Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) had also failed to open its account.

Congress, BSP and RLD would be cornering the Akhilesh dispensation on issues such as law and order, sugarcane arrears, crime against women, dismal power situation etc.

Meanwhile, Yadav sought the cooperation of opposition parties for the smooth conduct of the assembly and passage of the state budget.

In 2012 state polls, SP had won 224 seats followed by BSP 80, BJP 47, Congress 28 and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) 9. Others and independents won 15 seats.

Twelve of the sitting UP BJP legislators had contested the recent LS polls and won, including Uma Bharti and Kalraj Mishra, who have been given union cabinet berths.

BJP member of legislative council Nepal Singh also made it to Parliament.

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner Apna Dal leader Anupriya Patel had also resigned from the assembly after getting elected to Lok Sabha. Two Apna Dal members had won the LS poll.

On June 20, the government would present the budget for 2014-15. On February 21, the government had tabled interim budget of about Rs 2,59,848 crore for 2014-15 in the assembly.

Akhilesh Yadav, who also holds finance portfolio, had also presented vote on account of Rs 80,086 crore for Apr-July 2014-15 fiscal. In the absence of full budget, vote on account ensures ample finances at the disposal of the incumbent government to run administration and incur expenditure under important heads.