Chidambaram to hold Budget consultations with Congess leaders on Feb 14

Finance Minister P Chidambaram will hold consultations with Congress leaders on February 14, amid expectations that the 2013-14 Budget will be a promising affair, replete with populist schemes. Party sources said Chidambaram would be coming to the All-India Congress Committee headquarters for holding pre-budget consultations with party office bearers. With the Lok Sabha polls just 15 months away, Congress leaders expect a 'very promising' budget is on the cards with the exercise focusing on populist schemes along with economic reforms. There has been talks that the Budget could be used for giving greater focus to the problems of the youth.

Party leaders have given hints that the budgetary exercise could witness the start of many programmes which are going to have far-reaching consequences.

Several economic reforms, Food Security law and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) all over the country are among measures being planned to be implemented in the year ahead. At a time when majority of the population is below the age of 45. The budget session of Parliament will start on February 21 and the budget will be presented on February 28.