Will Uttaranchal have a Budget?

Ahead of the Budget session beginning on Wednesday in Dehra Dun, suspense arose over the date of presentation of the Budget amid reports that the government was also planning to bring a vote on account.

The date of presentation of Budget was still to be finalised, a top finance ministry official said. But the official said the government was also bringing a vote on account as the possibility of passing the Budget before the end of this financial year looked bleak.

When contacted, Indian Industries Association (IIA) Uttaranchal President Pankaj Gupta said there was no need to bring a vote on account this time. "We are expecting a full-fledged Budget," Gupta said.

Meanwhile, the main opposition BJP today criticised the N D Tiwari government for bringing consecutively fourth year vote-on-account instead of full fledged budget.