After the central government, it’s Delhi government’s turn to present the finance budget and the AAP government is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that everything goes smoothly. This is, perhaps, why they have roped in senior Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader, Yashwant Sinha.
According to Economic Times, Delhi government has co-opted the sidelined BJP Veteran, Sinha, to hold orientation program for Finance Minister, Finance Secretary and MLAs of Delhi government on the budget making process.
Sinha will interact with finance department officers, led by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and other MLAs, on March 15.
Since I have been a finance minister in past, they (Delhi government) think that I will be able to explain the intricacies of the budget to the legislators.Yashwant Sinha, Former Union Finance Minister
For Sinha, who was not included even in BJP’s ‘Margdarshak Mandal’ (Panel of guides) to become a ‘Margdarshak’ for AAP government does make things interesting in the political scenario in the national capital. Sinha had been openly critical of the central government, even though his son Jayant Sinha holds the post of Minister of State for Finance in the union cabinet.
Every year, the Delhi government presents its budget after the allocation of funds by Centre from Union Budget. Delhi has been allocated Rs 758 crore for 2016-2017.
Former revenue secretary and Rajya Sabha Member NK Singh was invited last year by Delhi government for orientation.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)