The first full-fledged Budget of Anandiben Patel's Government will be presented by the State Finance Minister Saurabh Patel on February 24. As the Budget is coming after the 7th edition of Vibrant Gujarat, lots of expectations have been generated among trade and industry.
"Over a month-long Budget session will kick start from February 23 and continue till March 31. The Finance Minister will present the Budget for the year 2015-16 on the second day of the session on February 24," said official sources in Gujarat Assembly.
The previous Budget for the year 2014-15 of Patel's Government was for nine-month and presented in June 2014. In the wake of general elections, Narendra Modi Government had presented vote-on-account for the period of April 2014 to June 2014.
As BJP emerged victorious in the parliamentary elections in May 2014, then Gujarat Chief Minister Modi elevated as the Prime Minister and Anandiben replaced him. Anandiben gave thrust on social sector in her first Budget but it would be interesting to see what kind of reforms in land, labour and tax regime she would bring in the upcoming Budget, especially in the backdrop of recently concluded Vibrant Gujarat summit in which investment worth Rs. 25 lakh crore have been pledged through over 21,000 MoUs.
Unlike monsoon and winter sessions, which are for hardly three-four days, the Opposition Congress is eagerly awaiting for the Budget session to corner the ruling party over execution of MoUs inked during the Vibrant Gujarat summit.
The Congress leaders are making hue & cry over MoUs on ground, despite the State Government's claim that over 60 MoUs are on ground, which were signed in the past six Vibrant Gujarat summits.