Siddaramaiah's 14th Budget: Full swing preperation

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is busily preparing his 14th budget to be presented in Karnataka Assembly on July 7th. Everyone knows that he is walking on a very tight rope. He has the responsibility of providing funds to his five guarantees apart from financing regular developmental works. It would be very difficult option for him to balance both progress and free distribution. Congress government is under tremendous pressure to mobilise required funds for its guarantees as well as for regular developmental works.

It is likely that Siddaramaiah may not completely concentrate on building better Bengaluru, because it needs heavy investment for new infrastructural facilities.He looks perturbed because he is not getting rice from anywhere including centre. He keeps on attacking central government for not providing rice to his favourite scheme of free rice of 10 kg. It looks as if he has lost his mind on accusing centre for hoarding rice which he describes it as anti poor strategy. Both the governments are trying to get the political mileage out of it by blaming eachother.  This drawback may force Chief Minister to allocate less funds than required. Basavaraj Bommai in his last budget allocated around 10 thousand crore for the Bengaluru developmt for the next five years. Congt MLA'S want it to be atleast doubled. If everything was okay, CM would have generously granted it but his hands are tied with guarantees to be implemented before taking up the cause of brand Bengaluru. Traffic congestion and waste management are two other problems nagging Bengaluru development and they also need more funds in the budget. Widening important roads, construction of elevated corridors for smooth flow of traffic, setting up of new satellite towns and tunnel roads are envisaged but requires pumping ina lot of funds. Looking at this juncture it seems that may take back seat in the ensuing budget.

Another major department which requires huge budgetary allocations is water resources which comprises major irrigation. Previous government has allocated over 20 thousand crores inits last budget where there was no burden of implementation of guarantees. Now, it needs another 20% more to carry on the ongoing projects like Kalasa Banduri, Ettinahole and Makedatu. It would be tight walking on the rope for Siddaramaiah to provide  whatu givu in last budget forgetting any enhancement. There are many more projects like construction of parallel reservoir on Tugabhadra River are in pipeline. As the priority lies on implementation of the guarantees, there wo no second thought on increasing budgetary allocations to any other purpose.

As this is a doubl bull engined government Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar weilds equal responsibility as that of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.but Siddaramaiah with his profound experience in handling the finance portfolio and presenting the budget for record 14 th time he may have to listen and follow him blindly if guarantees are to be delivered to the voters. But the present political situation is such that he may demand more for his departments. He holds both these major departments. If allocations to his departments are reduced, it may lead to the camp rivalry and aggravate the discontent between both the leaders. They is already an ongt tussel between the two camps over the issue of chief minister tenure. Shivakumar supporters wants him as Chief Minister after 30 months. Siddaramu camp keeps on saying that he will rule for the entire 5 years term. But many Senior Congt leaders want that atleast the first budget after the assembly elections to go smoothly. They suggest that in the interest of the party is foremost rathu than camp rivalry.

As DK Shivkumar is also the party president and equally responsible for delivering the guarantees, he will whole heartedly support their implementation. But his camp has sent warning signals against withholding higer allotments to his portfolio citing free bees. He has strong will to improve liveability in Bengaluru and to construct Mekedatu balancing reservoir on Cauvery river. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has several rounds of discussio with officials of various important departments. The finance department is finding it difficult to mobilise funds for 5 guarantees and it is blank on enhancing allocations to other departments requirements. Chief Minister is yet to consult his deputy over budget finalisation and  hopefully it would be a smooth affair.