BJP ally Shiv Sena too against Budget before Assembly polls

BJP ally and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee not to allow presentation of Budget before the scheduled elections in five states, saying the Union Government might use it to lure voters.
"By making attractive announcements in Budget, government can grab votes indirectly," Thackeray said, addressing a statewide gathering of Sena workers here.
The Sena president asked his party MPs to meet the President and request him to postpone the Budget beyond polls.
Congress, Left, Samajwadi Party and some others have already represented to the Election Commission not to allow the Centre to present the Budget during poll process.

"Also, the Prime Minister should not address campaign rallies (in the poll-bound states). PM is of the country and not of any party," Thackeray said.
Without naming Narendra Modi, Thackeray said, "I don't have any assurances to give you, but the Santa Claus is giving the people a lot of assurances."

Modi recently laid foundation stone of Pune Metro project but the National Green Tribunal stayed the work, and hence there should be proper planning for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project (to avoid such embarrassment), he said.
On prospects of alliance with BJP for Mumbai civic polls, he said Sena will not beg for seats. "It (alliance) will be on our terms and conditions. Shiv Sainiks' opinion will be considered while taking the decision," Uddhav said.

He also slammed the NDA government over Ram temple issue and income tax raids on priests at temple town of Tribakeshwar near Nashik. He dared the IT department to conduct raids on holy places of other religions.
He also hit out at NABARD and the Union Government for getting "rural banks in trouble" with the decision of demonetisation.