The Kerala Legislative Assembly session is set to begin from August 7 onwards, said Chief Minister's Office on Wednesday.
This year the budget session of Kerala Assembly was held from January 23. Finance Minister KN Balagopal presented the budget for LDF government on February 3 for the financial year 2023-2024.
A Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took the decision to convene the new session from August 7, a CMO statement said, as per PTI.
This would be the first session of the House after the demise of veteran Congress leader Oommen Chandy who was part of the Assembly proceedings for more than half a century.
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The second budget for the Pinarayi Vijayan 2.0 government was presented by Kerala's finance minister, K.N. Balagopal, and included proposals for a Rs 2 cess on petrol and diesel as well as a Rs 20 increase on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). In addition to raising property taxes, it has also proposed a new tax on people who own second homes and on all properties that are kept closed.
Beginning the budget speech on a positive note, the Minister said the southern state has bravely overcome COVID challenges and finally returned to the path of growth and prosperity.
Though the state's economy is facing challenges due to the financial policies of the Centre and its decision to impose cuts on its borrowing limit, Kerala is not in a debt trap, he said.
Taxes on new cars, land registration fees, and other fees associated with using government services were all increased. Additionally, the judicial fee was also increased.
The Congress-led Opposition condemned the higher taxes, dubbed the budget a "tool" to rob the populace, and said it will start a large-scale demonstration in opposition.