It’s now final. Despite the saber rattling by the Yeddyurappa camp, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda who holds the finance portfolio, will present his maiden budget as scheduled on Wednesday. The Lower House needs a quorum of only 23 members to hold a session. However, Mr Gowda may have to prove his majority in the House on March 29, while seeking approval for the Budget if the Opposition presses for a vote.
According to sources, the number game will come into play only when Mr Gowda seeks approval for the ‘Demand for Grants’ for the financial year 2012-23. “After the budget presentation, a general discussion is held for a couple of days in both Houses followed by voting on the demands for grants in the Lower House. If the ruling party is defeated in the voting, the government will automatically collapse,” said sources.
Speculation is rife over the state BJP’s next move to counter both the Yeddyurappa faction and the Opposition. As sources pointed out, the BJP is hoping to lure back fence sitters in the Yeddyurappa camp now huddled in a resort. And the party is anxiously waiting for the Ugadi break on Friday, when MLAs in the resort will head homewards and hence become more accessible.
Said a source, “The strength of BSY group will dwindle drastically as fence-sitters are hoping to return to the party fold. However, they are worried about antagonizing Yeddyurappa. The Budget can be passed easily if the party issues a whip, which seems unlikely at this point.” Another option being explored is – can the party pass the budget even if the BSY camp boycotts the session? “The party is hoping that Yeddyurappa’s numbers come down to 30 so that the government can comfortably get the Budget passed with the help of independents and JD (S), even if the BSY faction stays away from the voting. For now, we are hoping that everything fall in place before the voting,” said another source.
Said a MLA on the condition of anonymity, “Getting the Budget approved in the House is no big task. While ruling party members are behaving like the Opposition, there are members in the Opposition ranks who favour the ruling party.”