Skirting the much-awaited issue of dissolution of Assembly, the marathon four-hour-long cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, confined its focus to approving a slew of welfare packages for handloom weavers, fishermen and industrial workers, besides transferring additional powers to local bodies.Asked whether the issue of early polls was discussed at the meeting, Information Minister S. Chandramohan Reddy said: ‘‘Elections will certainly be held next year.’’The Cabinet approved a Rs 279 crore package for handloom and textile workers that included setting up of four apparel export parks, 12 textile parks and 19 handloom bazars. It will take up construction of 17,000 pucca houses for fishermen with a subsidy component of Rs 39.95 crore. The Cabinet promised houses to industrial workers, too.(PTI)
