Mumbai, May 24: The budget session of Maharashtra legislature begins here today in the backdrop of an acrimoniously contested Lok Sabha elections and the impending assembly polls in September. With major political parties, including ruling Congress and NCP and the Opposition Shiv Sena and BJP, gearing up for the electoral battle ahead, the forthcoming assembly elections are likely to cast a shadow on the proceedings of the state legislature.
With an eye over the crucial polls in the state, the Congress-NCP-led DF government, is expected to present a "soft budget", the sources in the ruling coalition indicated.
The full-fledged budget, is likely to be tabled on May 28, the official sources said. The interim budget, ahead of Lok Sabha polls, was presented during the three-day session held in the month of March. The budget session, the last one in all probability for the ruling coalition, is expected to last for over two weeks, the sources said.
The Business Advisory Committee (BAC), which meets on the opening day, would finalise the agenda for the rest of the session, they said. During the initial two days, the state legislature would also debate over the Governor Mohammed Fazal's joint address to the state legislature delivered during the interim session March.
Bureau Report