Tax-free Delhi budget in an election year

New Delhi (PTI): No new tax was levied and chilly spray, desi ghee and LED lights will be cheaper with Delhi government on Wednesday proposing to reduce or eliminate VAT on them in its Rs budget which focussed on social sector in an election year as Congress seeks a record 4th term in power. Presenting the Rs 37,450-crore budget in the state assembly, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit amid occasional protests by opposition BJP MLAs, said "I am proposing a tax free-budget". In her around 90-minute budget speech, Dikshit expressed confidence that the national capital's growth will touch nine per cent against the national average of five per cent as she outlined the development activities taken up by her government in several sectors, including health, water, infrastructure and transport. With assembly poll expected in November this year and after a drubbing Congress got in last year's municipal election, Dikshit sought to woo the electorate with enhanced social spending, earmarking Rs 10,351 crore or 65% of total plan outlay of Rs 16,000 crore.