Full budget row: CM finds support in deputy, DKS

Bengaluru, Jun 18: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah’s disagreement over a new full-budget for 2018-19 has not only upset Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, it has also discomfited his own party colleagues, forcing them to take sides.

On Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and cabinet colleague D K Shivakumar indirectly batted for Kumaraswamy, by saying they were uncertain about the intent behind Siddaramaiah’s remarks.

Siddaramaiah had, on Saturday, had taken exception to Kumaraswamy’s budget plan by stating there was no need for a new budget and that the chief minister could announce his new programmes through a supplementary budget.

Kumaraswamy had countered it, saying it had been a practice for a new government to present a full budget.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Parameshwara seconded Kumaraswamy’s opinion.

“It’s a common practice for new governments to evolve their own programmes and announce the same in the budget. I’m not sure in what context Siddaramaiah made such a statement,” he said.

Reiterating that the coordination committee had decided to continue all programmes/welfare schemes of the previous Congress regime, Parameshwara said, “Efforts are on to combine the old and new proposals. A drafting committee for preparing the common minimum programme has been set up. The committee will submit its report to the co-ordination committee in the next 10 days. Until then, no decision will be taken.”