Saying Budget violates poll code, Opp to meet EC today

date of polling in UP.

The Chief Election Commissioner, while announcingtheelectionschedulewednesday, saidthepanelwillexaminethejointrepresentation sent by Opposition parties.

“The Commission has received one representation sent by some political parties. This representation is with regard to presentation of the Budget. The Commission is examining this representation and, in due course of time, will take a call,” Zaidi said.

Sources in Election Commission said the panel was not consulted by the government on rescheduling the Budget session. “We have received no formal communication on this, either recently or in the past from the government,” an EC official said.

Sources said Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad will lead the Congress delegation to the poll panel Thursday. It was Azad who had earlier written to the President and the CEC on behalf of several Opposition parties, questioning the decision to advance the Budget presentation.

“Advancing the presentation of the Budget gives an unfair advantage to the ruling party to influence voters by announcing populist schemes, thereby undermining free and fair election. Therefore, it is our considered view that the presentation of the Budget, instead of being advanced, should be postponed to only after the assembly elections,” Azad said in the letter.