LDF seeks postponement of Kochi Corporation Budget presentation over alleged leak of figures

The Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) has petitioned the Kochi Corporation secretary seeking postponement of the civic body’s Budget presentation scheduled for Tuesday, alleging leakage of budgetary figures after they were published in a few newspapers a couple of days ago.

Mayor V.K. Minimol dismissed the allegation, stating that a civic body’s Budget was not secretive like the Union or State budgets and was discussed by all nine members of the finance committee along with officials. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supported the Mayor’s argument, the party maintained that it was improper for the Mayor’s office to share budgetary figures with the media.

LDF Parliamentary Party leader V.A. Sreejith said that under the Kerala Municipal Act, the Budget approved by the finance committee should first be placed before the council. Only after incorporating amendments suggested by the council should it be released to the media. “Sharing Budget details with the media before the council’s approval amounts to encroachment on the special privileges of the council. Hence, it should be reported to the State government. The finance committee should be reconvened to discuss the Budget, and only after reworking should it be presented before the council,” he said. Mr. Sreejith recalled how the UDF had prevented the LDF’s deputy mayor K.A. Ansiya from presenting the Budget in 2024, citing the same Act, when it was in the Opposition.

Ms. Minimol attributed the issue to the mandatory uploading of the Budget agenda, as approved by the finance committee, on K-Smart. She noted that the agenda was shared with all councillors, who were free to share it with the media. She added that the situation was different from the 2024 episode, as the finance committee chaired by Ms. Ansiya had then failed to prepare and approve the Budget.

BJP councillor Priya Prashanth said the inherent flaws in K-Smart were at the root of the problem. “The fact is that K-Smart is not compatible with the Kerala Municipality Act and cannot incorporate its various provisions through a few limited modules,” she said.