Now the budget proposals, already effective on direct and indirect taxes, do not face the prospect of lapsing as feared earlier. Similarly, payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the consolidated fund will not pose any constitutional problem.

There were no amendments suggested by either side and the passage was through in a record time of twenty minutues following an agreement among all political parties just before the House met for the day.

The Lok Sabha first took up demands for grants for railways, followed by the appropriation (railways) bill, general budget and the finance bill.

While the railway budget was piloted by railway minister Nitish Kumar, the general budget and the Finance Bill were piloted by finace minister Yashwant Sinha.

It is imperative that the new Governmentwill have the freedom to bring in supplementary budget incorporating new proposals later, if so desired. According to Congress party sources, the new Government was bound to bring the supplementary budget as it was all set to move amendments.

For example, these sources added, the Congress had pointed out soon after the budget presentation that the funds allocated to social sector was inadequate.

Even the left parties were getting ready to move amendments in the normal case.

The passage of the budget was facilitated by presidential intervention after the BJP and allies refused to cooperate in the matter creating disruptions in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. President KR Narayanan, subsequently, summoned Sinha and Parliamentary affairs minister R Kumaramangalam on Wednesday and directed them to pass the budget without delay.

According to knowledgeable Parliamentary circles, this is, perhaps, for the first time that the budget was passed by voice vote in a record time of twenty minutes without any amendmentor cut motions. The Rajya Sabha is likely to pass it shortly.