Will Siddaramaiah go in for a remix?

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">BANGALORE: Will Siddu do a Chidu? Has he tuned into FM (P Chidambaram)? If yes, then our FM Siddaramaiah may also go in for a remix.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">It''s simple: take a broad vision paper called the common minimum programme, which actually is a consolidation of election manifestos.Then, start allocating funds where required, squeeze the honest taxpayer and meet the shortfall.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Actually, Siddaramaiah has done much more than that in his previous budgets. The son of the soil had given that most important impetus to the hi-tech image of Bangalore. This time, however, he may be straight-jacketed by his own coalition''s election promises.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Siddaramaiah is facing a huge bill of Rs 300 crore for the mid-day meal scheme and the additional funds needed to fund the extension of this programme up to class X. The state''s revenue deficit already stands at Rs 135 crore (let''s not talk of the fiscal deficit — that''s Rs 3,757 crore, thanks to power subsidies).</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">Karnataka'' s deputy chief minister has a cryptic answer to how he proposes to raise money — just wait and watch. Does it sound a bit ominous? Well, there''s more. The government needs funds to meet the new Rs 3/per kg rice scheme. Further, the CMP''s proposal to waive interest on farm loans has to be examined — if it''s the same as announced by former CM S M Krishna.</span><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">What, however, is more mystifying is the assertion to revive sick units, since it is a stark deviation from the government''s own medium-term fiscal programme as also Krishna''s budget presented just before the elections. ("... withdraw from areas which should be in the domain of the private sector to concentrate on areas of "market failure� and to reform public expenditure...,") was what Krishna had said in his budget on March 1.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">But that budget appears to be history now. The wind on disinvestment has changed both at the Centre and state. Revival of sick units is the new mantra. Now, it remains to be seen whether the government takes responsible steps or sink these units beyond redemption.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">One thing is sure, though. Siddaramaiah is not a populist. Neither he nor Chief Minister N Dharam Singh signed free power for farmers soon after taking oath. In fact, he has shown concern on increased borrowings.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-family:="" arial="" font-size:="">But then, he has the coalition to think of. And of survival. Over to you, finance minister.</span></div> </div>