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We have promises to keep, says PM

Quickly getting down to business a day after being sworn in, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today presided over the first meeting of his Cabinet which decided to convene the first session of the 15th Lok Sabha from June 1 to June 9.

The Cabinet decided a time-table for the Parliament session which will have seven sittings, Union Minister P Chidambaram said.

Indicating the government's eagerness to get on with its work, Singh told the cabinet meeting that the UPA has made a number of promises to the people and "we have promises to keep", Chidambaram quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

As per the schedule finalised, the first two days will be earmarked for the newly-elected members to take oath. The Speaker's election will take place on June three and President Pratibha Patil will address the joint sitting of both Houses on June 4.

Discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President will be taken up on June 5, 8 and 9.

Text: Press Trust of India.

Budget by July 31

Chidambaram said the Rajya Sabha will also commence its session on June 4. The new UPA government is hopeful of getting the Budget for 2009-10 approved by Parliament by July 31, Chidambaram said.

"We hope we will be able to pass the Budget by July 31," he said, adding if it was not done then the government will have to seek another vote-on-account for a short period.

"The interim Budget as has been approved by Parliament operates till the end of July. So, the government has the ability to carry on expenditure and its functioning till then. If, after that from the first of August, it is not possible to pass full Budget we need vote-on-account for another short period beyond that," Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla said earlier in the week.

The Congress in its manifesto had promised to bring the Budget within 45 days of the formation of the new government.