No state specific schemes should be announced in Union Budget: EC

The Election Commission on Monday ordered that no state specific schemes shall be announced in national budget in the interest of free and fair elections.

It may be ensured that in the budget speech the government's achievements in respect of five poll-bound states will not be highlighted.

The government earlier in the day called for an all-party meeting on January 30 ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament.

The Supreme Court earlier today announced that the budget will be announced on February 1, as had been decided by the government.

The apex court rejected lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma's plea seeking postponement of Union Budget to March due to the upcoming assembly elections in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand next month.

Sharma in his plea stated that the people would face a lot of problems due to the upcoming assembly elections in these five states.

The opposition had also sought the same, arguing that the budget announcement would allure the voters and influence voting thereby leading to unfair elections.