Budget session of Puducherry Assembly begins on Sep 8; first after Lok Sabha polls

PUDUCHERRY: The budget session of the 30 member Legislative Assembly of Puducherry will begin on September 8 with the customary address by Lt Governor of the Union Territory, according to a communication from Secretary to the Legislative Assembly S. Mohandoss.

This is the first session of the House after the Lok Sabha polls on April 24 this year which witnessed the wresting of the lone seat by the fledgling AINRC from the Congress.

Chief Minister N Rangasamy, who holds the Finance portfolio would present the 2014-15 budget within a few days of the commencement of the session, though there are indications that he would present it on the floor of the House on September 11.

The CM had presented an interim budget on Mar 12 and not a full fledged one as the model code was in force.

The Assembly session will begin in the backdrop of some important developments.With the NDA government assuming office in the Centre, Lt Governor Virendra Kataria was replaced by the Centre in July nd the Lt Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Lt General (Retd) A K Singh assumed charge under additional responsibility on July 17.

Kataria was constantly at war of words with the CM almost from when he assumed office in July 2013. Opposition paries, comprising Congress, DMK and AIADMK lambasted government on various counts.

AIADMK charged it with adopting discriminatory approach in implementing the free rice scheme, while Congress accused it of lack of proper steps to implement the scheme.

DMK and AIADMK had protested government's 'failure' to ensure availability of 50 per cent quota seats in each of the seven private medical colleges for government sponsored students.

Another issue likely to hog the limelight is revival of the government owned AFT mills which has remained closed for nearly two years.