The BJP-Shinde-led government will present its first full budget before next year’s general and Assembly elections, on March 9, in a month-long legislative session to be held from February 27 to March 25. Finance Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has invited suggestions from the public and experts to be accommodated in his first budget (for 2023-24) as the in-charge of the department that he has kept with himself.

Next year, the government will not be presenting a full budget but will come out with its interim form, because of the Assembly elections scheduled in the winter. So Fadnavis’s presentation this year holds political importance as it will chart a way ahead of the polls that the BJP wishes to dominate as the single largest party, yet again after 2019.