Kejriwal Government To Present First Delhi Budget After Winning MCD Polls. Here Is What To Expect

Delhi Budget 2023: New Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot will present the Budget for the first time. However, according to the government, the entire outlay had been prepared under Sisodia.

Kailash Gahlot (right) will present the Kejriwal Cabinet's ninth Budget on Tuesday. ( Image Source :PTI, Facebook )

The Arvind Kejriwal government will present the Delhi Budget in the assembly on Tuesday. The Delhi Budget comes at a time when Chief Minister Kejriwal is dealing with several allegations of corruption in the Aam Aadmi Party. Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who also held the finance portfolio, will not be presenting the Budget as he is in jail, along with  ex-Health Minister Satyendar Jain. Both face corruption charges against them.

The Delhi Budget will be presented in the assembly at 11 am on Tuesday. Delhi's new Finance Minister Kailash Gahlot will present the Budget for the first time. Before him, Manish Sisodia had been presenting the Budget as the Finance Minister for eight consecutive years. But he had to resign from his post on February 28, following the arrest by the CBI in the excise policy case on February 26. Due to this Gahlot took on the additional responsibility of the finance department.

However, according to the Delhi government, the entire outlay had been prepared under Sisodia. Before going to jail, Manish Sisodia had completed almost all the preparations regarding this budget, a source said.

This will also be the Kejriwal Cabinet's first Budget after winning the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls. Sources said the focus of CM Arvind Kejriwal will be to improve the schools and the hospitals under the MCD as well as to end the mountains of garbage at the three landfills of Delhi — Ghazipur, Okhla, and Bhalswa. 

All these reasons make for a Budget to watch out for in the Delhi Assembly. So, what could be the Arvind Kejriwal government's focus?

1. Like every year, the government is likely to focus on education and health in the Delhi Budget. The government could announce an increase in the number of Dr Ambedkar School of Specialized Excellence in Delhi. The Budget is also likely to make provisions to conduct renovations of MCD schools.

2. A few new hospitals could also be announced, along with new mohalla clinics. Improvement of MCD hospitals is also on the cards as well.

3. The Kejriwal government is likely to make provisions in the Budget for cleaning the Yamuna and reducing pollution. Arvind Kejriwal had earlier said that the Delhi government would work to completely clean the Yamuna by 2025.

4. A particular pain point for Delhi residents, the three garbage mountains, is also expected to get special attention. This was the biggest promise of Arvind Kejriwal before winning the MCD election. Recently, Kejriwal again announced that by December 2024, all the three garbage mountains will be cleared.

5. This year, a special package will also be allotted to prepare for the G-20 meet. The Delhi government is working with the Centre to make the event a success.