Thiruvananthapuram: The final budget of the second Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is likely to be presented on the 29th of this month. With the Assembly elections approaching, reports indicate that Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal is expected to present a full budget this time. The 16th session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly has been decided to convene from the 20th of this month.
The decision to recommend convening the Assembly session from January 20 was taken at the Cabinet meeting held yesterday, following which the Governor was advised accordingly. The session will begin on the 20th with the Governor’s policy address. Obituary references for eminent personalities and former MLAs will be held on the 21st, while the discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address is scheduled for the 22nd.
Discussions on the budget presented by the Finance Minister are required to be held in the Assembly. However, there is a possibility that the Assembly election notification may be issued even before the budget debate, raising the likelihood that the session may be curtailed. In such a scenario, instead of passing the full budget, the Assembly may pass a Vote on Account to meet expenditure requirements for six months, according to reports.
Meanwhile, the government has decided to regularise employees working on honorarium or daily wage basis—following due procedures—in cultural centres and panchayat libraries under gram panchayats and municipalities, as well as in children’s homes and nursery schools across the state. Those who have been working continuously for 10 years or more will be eligible for regularisation. Employees in categories such as librarians, nursery teachers, and ayahs will be regularised as part-time contingent staff.
