Budget date: Election Commission examines Cabinet Secretary's response

The Election Commission on Tuesday received the response from the Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha over postponement of the Budget presentation date.

Last week, the Election Commission has sought the Centre's reply on the Opposition's plea to postpone the Budget presentation date, as per normal procedure.

A united Opposition had lodged a complaint with the Election Commission on the date for the annual Budget, saying it was too close to the assembly polls.

The Budget Session of the Parliament will begin from February 1.

The session is being advanced as the government wants early allocation of funds for various schemes-- from April 1, the beginning of the financial year.

The Election Commission had announced seven-phase polling for 403 assembly constituencies in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, two-phase polling in Manipur and one-phase polling each in the states of Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa respectively.

The model code of conduct does not provide delaying or postponing the presentation of the budget, and only says that no specific sops or schemes be proposed in states where elections are being held.

Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said that the counting of votes in all the five states will take place on March 11.