Shimla, Mar 3 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh will present a record 15th state budget and fifth in a row during the Congress Government's present tenure in the HP Vidhan Sabha here on Monday.

Mr Singh, when he presents this year's budget on Monday, would perhaps be the only state Chief Minister and Finance Minister in the country to have presented 15 budgets in five tenures spanning over 20 years.

While he presented six budgets in a row between 1984 and 1989 after becoming the state Chief Minister in 1983, four of his budgets were presented between 1994 and 1998 after the Congress Government returned to power following the dismissal of the Shanta Kumar led BJP Government after the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992.

The Chief Minister had already presented four budgets in a row during his present tenure and the Monday's budget would be his 15th overall and fifth in a row.

In comparison, former Union Minister and CM Shanta Kumar has presented six budgets in two tenures, former Chief Ministers P K Dhumal five in a row from 1998 and Ram Lal Thakur four consecutive budgets from 1980 onwards.

Mr Kumar had presented three budgets in a row in 1977, 1978 and 1979 and three again in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Mr Singh, who is one of the most popular leaders of the state, is optimist of returning to power after the next assembly elections that are due in February 2008.

UNI