Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 11: "The chief ministers (CM) should not retain the finance portfolio with themselves. Just because a person becomes chief minister does not mean that he is an expert in finance," said veteran politician and BJP MLC H Vishwanath.

His words received thunderous welcome from the Congress and JD(S) legislators who thumped their desks. Many congratulated him for saying something which many did not dare to say.

H Vishwanath (left) and B S Yediyurappa

Speaking at the debate on budget presented by the chief minister for 2021-22 on Wednesday March 10, Vishwanath fired barbs at the chief minister B S Yediyurappa, duly using the names of former chief ministers, Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy as a shield.

"Siddaramaiah presented the budget 16 times, Kumaraswamy four times, and Yediyurappa eight times. But they have just presented the facts and figures provided by the officials. We cannot say that these budgets were presented in their capacity as financial experts," he commented.

Vishwanath said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has not retained any portfolio with himself. He recalled that when Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat for 12 years, finance department was held by Vajubhai Vala, current governor of Karnataka, he mentioned.