Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav presents 'populist' budget keeping in mind 2014 Lok Sabha elections

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh (UP) chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday presented a Rs 23,913 crore deficit budget for the state for 2013-14 at Rs 2,21,201.19 crore. The 'populist' budget has been tabled keeping in mind 2014 Lok Sabha elections,which can also be held before schedule. This was second budget of Akhilesh. The focus of the budget is mainly on poor, farmers, agriculture, rural development, Muslims, backward classes and infrastructure development. Since UP is expected to play an important role in the formation of next government at the Centre, the ruling Samajwadi Party is keen to widen its support base and consolidate its core constituency. The budget tabled has showed a 10%...