Diverting from the interim budget presented by Lalu Prasad in 2009, Mallikarjun Kharge today presented what could be termed as the shortest vote-on-account. While he refrained from making any announcements, he did spell out the achievements of the Railways during the five year stint.
The Minister started off with a Ghalib quote which meant that he will seek to present a truthful picture. Mallikarjun Kharge is the second Railway Minister from Congress Party in the 10-year UPA regime to be presenting a Railway Budget, although interim. Earlier, under UPA-I regime Lalu Prasad from RJD had presented vote-on-account (interim budget) in 2009. He did not read the entire speech and abruptly ended it by reading the last paragraph..