Gangtok, Feb 24: Budget session of Sikkim Assembly begins today with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who also holds finance portfolio, presenting the budget for 2003-04. The six-day long session would start with Governor V Rama Rao's address to the 32-member house. The presentation of budget would take place later, assembly sources said.
Chamling would also place the second and final supplementary demands for grants for the current fiscal on the opening day before presenting the budget. On the second day, the house would take up discussion and voting on motion of thanks on the governor's address followed by general discussion on the budget.

After a reply by the finance minister, discussion and voting on demands for grants of the transport, social welfare, power, labour, food and civil supplies, consumer affairs and cooperation departments would be taken up. The last day list of business figured presentation of reports, election and nomination of assembly committees, selection of panel of chairmen among others.

Passing of the budget and motion of thanks on governor's address would be a very smooth affair for the Chamling-led Sikkim Democratic Front government which has 31 members in the assembly with former chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari being the lone opposition member. Bureau Report