As no Finance Minister in cabinet, CM KCR may present budget 2019

​Hyderabad: The Budget Session of the Telangana Assembly is likely to commence from February 25. It is learnt that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao himself will present the budget this time since he had already dedicated most of the time in the preparation of the vote on account in consultation with all departments. 

As the expansion of the state cabinet is still pending since December 13 last year on the day KCR was sworn in as CM along with Mahmood Ali with Home portfolio, political circles said the chances of the presentation of the budget by the CM are not ruled out as there is also no Finance Minister to oversee the entire exercise of finalising allocations as was done earlier.  

Sources said KCR is planning to hold a brief four or five-day Assembly session to present the vote on account before February last week.  In the wake of reports that the Election Commission of India is mulling to issue a notification for the Lok Sabha elections in March first week, the Chief Minister hastened the process to complete the whole exercise of the finalisation of the annual outlay. 

State Finance Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao has been entrusted with analyzing the requirement of funds in consultation with state advisor (Finance) GR Reddy.   On the other hand, some party leaders indicate that the TRS Supremo is weighing all options to constitute the cabinet before the commencement of the budget session of the Assembly. Reports say that KCR is likely to induct at least 8 ministers in his cabinet in a week.  In all likelihood, the ministers will be sworn in on February 10 (Sunday). 

However, there is no official confirmation from the government or the ruling party. If the cabinet is formed, KCR will assign a senior most leader the responsibility to look after the Finance department and present the budget.  Former State Planning Board Chairman Niranjan Reddy’s name is doing rounds as the potential candidate for the post of Finance Minister.