By the time Hooda finished his speech during his reply to the Governor’s address, cornering table thumping and cheers from the Congress and Independent MLAs, Birender Singh knew this was not going to be his day. When asked during the intervening lunch break before the presentation of Budget proposals what new incentives he proposed to announce, a somewhat chastened Birender Singh said with a wry smile, “Ab announce karne ko rah hi kya gaya hai. Sab kuch to announce ho hi gaya.’’

However, later during his customary post-budget press conference, the FM tried to downplay the issue of any possible rift or rivalry with the Chief Minister, saying, “As Finance Minister I should have information of any such announcement and I have. In fact I had suggested Hooda most of these things.’’

When another journalist asked whether he had received a ‘jhatka’ (shock) because of the unexpected welfare announcements by the CM, the Finance Minister denied it. But despite hiding his disappointment, it seemed obvious that he had been caught unawares.

When asked how happy he was with the Chief Minister’s announcement, for a second Birender Singh almost spoke out his mind. “What do you want me to say,’’ he posed a counter question with a mischievous smile.

Interestingly, approximately Rs 700 crore bonanza announced by the CM that included incentives benefiting the senior citizens, pensioners, freedom fighters, LTA for the pensioners, members of Panchayati Raj, destitute children, anganwadi workers had no mention in the budget proposals for the year 2009-10.

Birender Singh was not unduly worried about how the state would meet the extra burden of approximately Rs 700 crore to fund the announcements. “We will meet the extra expenses by supplementary demands or by borrowings,’’ he said.

Unfortunately, the state’s debt burden has been going up. This year’s debt burden went up by Rs 10,000 crore. While it was Rs 28,000 crore last year, the debt burden this financial year had gone up to Rs 38,000 crore.

Hooda and Birender Singh’s friendly rivalry has been known for years. Forthright and outspoken, Singh has, on a number of occasions, let his desire for holding the top post in the state be known. But perhaps even the FM had no inkling today he would be relegated to the background on his home turf.