EC seeks govt. response on plea to defer Budget

The poll panel has written to Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha seeking a reply by January 10.

Youth Congress activists shout slogans during a protest against the Centre not postponing the Budget date, in New Delhi on Friday.

The Election Commission has sought a response from the Centre on petitions for deferring the presentation of the Union Budget in view of the coming Assembly elections in five States.

The EC has written to Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha, asking for a response by January 10. The government has maintained that the budget presentation need not be postponed; otherwise developmental works in other States would suffer.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi said on Wednesday that a representation for deferment of the budget was being examined, and the EC would take a decision in due course.

The budget is to be presented on February 1.

A day later, an 11-member delegation of the Opposition parties met the CEC and told him that the Centre might make some budgetary announcements which would influence the voters in the five States. EC sources said the date would not change in case the government decided against postponing the budget presentation. BSP chief Mayawati was the first to request the EC to recommend that the budget be deferred until after the polls.

Parliament convened

The budget session of Parliament was on Saturday convened to start from January 31. President Pranab Mukherjee has summoned the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha to meet on January 31, according to official notifications.

( With inputs from PTI )