PANJIM: The presentation of the union budget, with a slew of tax proposals for the middle income group, has given the BJP in Goa an added fillip on the eve of polls in the state.
The BJP’s campaign in Goa, led by Defence Minister Parrikar, is likely to get poll push with the last minute tax sops. Meanwhile with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar open to returning to Goa as Chief Minister, subject to the parliamentary board ratifying it, this too is being looked as an additional push at the hustings. It is learnt that the cadre the messaging of his return has gone down to the cadre, which might help them in borderline seats
While the overall budget focussed on infrastructure allocations and the important increase in defence expenditure to Rs 2.74 lakh crores, it is the tax proposals beneficial across classes, which may well be seen as the vital X- factor at the hustings
The Income Tax proposals are the ones concerning the commoner, with those earning upto Rs 2,50,000 annually will be subjected to no tax. Those in the 2.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh will undergo a 5 % taxation while those between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh will be in the 20% tax bracket with the highest bracket of Rs 1 crore and above, taxed at 30%.
Meanwhile, Goa INC has reacted positively to the budget with Shekhar Sardesai Chairman CII Goa saying “The FM has presented a pragmatic and fiscally prudent budget”, while Sudhir Mehta Chairman said that the impact takeaways were infrastructure spending and job creation.
