Opposition meets EC; wants Budget presentation after polls

New Delhi : Opposition leaders met the Election Commission on Thursday to demand that the presentation of the Union Budget be postponed till the counting of votes in five poll-bound states is over, contending that its advancement will give “unfair” advantage to the BJP by way of making populist announcements and alluring voters.
After meeting the EC, Congress leader Ghulam Navi Azad said that they have demanded the Budget to be presented after March 8, which is when polling for elections will be over.
Congress leader Anand Sharma had said: “We are opposed to advancing of the budget presentation. This gives unfair advantage to the government. It will influence voters. It is clear the government will misuse both the budget presentation and the President’s customary address to both Houses of Parliament to announce populist schemes and also try to allure voters.”
Recalling that the presentation of budget was postponed in 2012 when Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Punjab were to go to polls last, Sharma insisted on repeating the past precedent.
Referring to the representation made by leaders of 16 opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, TMC, JD(U), SP and BSP to the President and also Chief Election Commissioner recently, Sharma said their request be accepted.