Chance for AAP to woo voters ahead of municipal elections

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government will table its third budget in the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Monday. The five-day budget session will be an opportunity for the AAP to showcase its work and also announce schemes for the people of the city ahead of the municipal elections.

A unique aspect of this budget will be the presentation of an ‘outcome budget’, where the government will put out the expected outcome of expenditure under specific heads.

Education and health

Like last year, education and health sectors are likely to get a big chunk of the budget. Around 25% of the total allocation is likely to be set aside for education.

The government is also likely to allocate ₹350 crore as Swaraj Fund in the budget, although it has not been able to use an equal amount under the same head as the proposal to constitute mohalla sabhas still awaits the L-G’s approval.

The session will begin with an address by Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal, his first after assuming office in December last year.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP is gearing up to corner the government over its “unfulfilled promises”.

It has accused the government of ‘building castles in the air’.

“The government has woven beautiful dreams in the pre-budget addresses. This is in keeping with its old practice as reflected in the last two budgets,” Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta said.

“All development work was to be implemented through participation of the public at the grass-root level. ₹253 crore was earmarked for it. During the second budget speech, ₹350 crore was earmarked for it. But till this day the mohalla sabhas have not seen the light of day. The government promised a participatory budget, which is nowhere to be seen,” said Mr. Gupta.

The government may also miss the revenue collection target as tax collections in December and January have been low. In January, Finance Minister Manish Sisodia had blamed demonetisation for the low revenue collections.