Vote on Account 2014: What little FM P Chidambaram can do

Finance minister P Chidambaram has presented eight budgets, including the so-called ‘dream budget’ of 1996-97, a benchmark for successive finance ministers. But, on Monday, when he rises to present the ninth, his hands will be tied even though the economy is in desperate need of more interventions.

In his first interim budget, Chidambaram will seek Parliament’s nod to run the government until the next one is in place after the elections. But, beyond that there is very little he can do to provide direction to the listless economy.

ET takes a look at the record & what little Chidambaram can do in the vote on account: