Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy will present the first Budget of his Congress-JD(S) coalition government on July 5, the State Cabinet decided yesterday. The Cabinet that met for the first time after its expansion and portfolio allocation also decided to request Governor Vajubhai Vala to address the joint session of the State Legislature on July 2.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the first session of the coalition government will be held from July 2 to 12. “It has been decided to convene the joint session on July 2. The Cabinet has decided to request the Governor to address and outline the objectives of the new government as per practice. The Cabinet has also decided that the Chief Minister will be presenting the Budget on July 5,” he added.

Kumaraswamy, who also holds Finance portfolio, had commenced pre-budget discussions with various Departments and their respective Ministers since yesterday.

Recently differences had emerged on presentation of the full-fledged Budget, as former Chief Minister and Chairman of the Congress-JD(S) Coordination Committee Siddharamaiah had suggested that there was no need for a fresh Budget and insisted that a supplementary Budget would do.

The Cabinet also approved the appointment of senior JD(S) MLC Basavaraj Horatti as pro-tem Chairman of the Karnataka Legislative Council, until the new Chairman is elected. It also decided to authorise the Chief Minister to recommend names for 2019 Padma awards that will be given away during the Republic Day.

Yesterday was the first meeting of the full-fledged Cabinet in Karnataka after the Congress-JD(S) coalition government came to power in the State.