Appropriation Bill adopted by AP Assembly

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Saturday adopted an Appropriation (vote on account) Bill, 2004, authorising the government for drawal of Rs 14,578.88 crore from the consolidated fund for meeting the essential expenditure for a part of the financial year 2004-05.

The bill, moved by finance minister K Rosaiah, was passed by voice vote.

The bill replaces an ordinance issued by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government during the period when the previous assembly stood dissolved.

The previous TDP government had opted for early Assembly polls and had dissolved the Assembly in November last year.

Since the new house could not be constituted before March 31, the previous government had issued the ordinance, a move that had triggered political controversy drawing flak from the entire opposition.

With the change of guard in the state now, the new Congress government had no option but to ratify the decision of the earlier government by bringing in the bill replacing the ordinance.

While moving the bill, Rosaiah said it was the responsibility of the present government to 'rectify the mistake of the past'.

"We believe that issuing ordinance for vote-on-account budget when the Assembly stands dissolved is wrong. But, we are forced to rectify that mistake by bringing in the appropriation bill," the minister said.