BENGALURU: Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s budget on Thursday will carry forward about 80 per cent of populist schemes benefitting urban, rural poor, minorities, backward classes and women among others that were announced in Siddaramaiah’s budget 2017-18 (tabled in February, experts say. Siddaramaiah’s pet schemes such as Arogya Bhagya (universal health scheme) and free education for girls from UG to PG are likely to figure in Kumaraswamy’s budget. “Both Congress and JD(S) have common interests,’’ special officer of Raichur University Prof Muzaffar Assadi said while elaborating on the compulsions to carry forward populist schemes.
Congress, which is focussing on consolidating its base, and JD(S), which is keen on expanding its base, have no intention to drop schemes and send wrong signals as being anti-Dalit or anti-minorities, Prof Assadi, a keen political observer, added. Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Ivan D’Souza said schemes such as the `6,000 pension for senior citizens could be drawn from the common minimum programme.
“If Siddaramaiah’s flagship schemes are dropped from Kumaraswamy’s budget, Congress will ensure that they find a mention in the supplementary budget,’’ D’ Souza, a close aide of Siddaramaiah, said. AHINDA leader Lolaksha said Siddaramaiah should have gone for a vote on account instead of submitting a full-fledged budget ahead of elections. “Nevertheless Siddaramaiah’s pro-people schemes announced in the previous budget should be incorporated in the new budget,’’ he said.