Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who is also holding the finance portfolio of Tamil Nadu, will be presenting the state budget 2018-19 on March 15. Since the local body elections are fast approaching, there are high expectations on the budget for many new welfare schemes. Notably, this is the first budget presentation after the merger of the AIADMK factions of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and O Panneerselvam.