NEW DELHI: A ‘snap’ Lok Sabha poll by February may still be a possibility despite parliamentary affairs minister V.C. Shukla’s announcement of a vote on account, indicating polls only in the second quarter of 196.
This is both the hope and apprehension among the members of Parliament, depending upon which side of the fence they have been sitting for the last four years.
‘The term of the tenth Lok Sabha ends on July 8, 1996, by which time the general elections should be held. ‘The annual budget has come to be the pointer to political writing on the wall instate full-fledged budget by March 311, something that the business community has been clamoring for, is possible only if the elections are completed latest by mid-February. There is no alternative but to go for a vote on account if the polls are being planned for March or later.
Is the Narasimha Rao Government really going to opt for a vote on account? Or, is the move announced by Mr. Shukla a ruse to keep the Opposition guessing to be surprised with an early general election? These are the questions being furiously debated in the Capital. The government’s right to choose the timing of the elections and frame its budgetary strategy accordingly, is, indeed, not being questioned by anybody. But the opinion is sharply divided on the “wisdom” of the decisions.
Officials in the Union ministry of finance, who began the budgetary exercise as early as September, have confirmed that the ministry has not been informed of any decision that the government would opt for a vote on account. This is being interpreted in political circles as he government’s intention to keep its options open.
There are many who think that Mr, ‘Shukla has merely stated the constitutional position, and no more should be read into it. They think that the minister’s statement indicating two voices on account, one before the general elections and the other after, to allow the next government reasonable time to frame its annual budget.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 24, 1995
