BJP Advancing Budget is a Pre-Poll Ploy to Appease Public: Oppn

Last year, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented the Union Budget for the 2016-17 financial year on 29 February. (Photo: Reuters)

Even as the Election Commission announced the dates for elections to five state assemblies on Wednesday, the Opposition alleged a “political move” on part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre.

At least 16 Opposition parties suspect that the Narendra Modi government is trying to win votes with guile. The parties have written to President Pranab Mukherjee and Chief Election Commissioner Naseem Zaidi, questioning the NDA government’s intent to present the Union Budget on 1 February.

Leaders of the Opposition, including Congress’ Ghulam Nabi Azad, TMC’s Derek O’brien, took their appeal to the Election Commission’s doorstep on 5 January, asking for the date of the budget to be pushed to 8 March, after the polls.

Five states – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur – are headed for the Assembly elections in February, with the first phase of the UP polls scheduled to begin on 11 February.

What Opposition Wants

While rumours of the Budget being presented on 1 February are rife, the government has not made a formal announcement yet.

The Budget, by convention, is presented on the last working day of February so the Lok Sabha has one month to review and modify the proposals before heading into the new economic year.

Sources from the Finance Ministry confirmed that it would not be changing the date of the budget’s announcement, according to CNN-News18.

The budget’s announcement can sway voters in the government’s favour, especially in important states like Punjab.

Populist measures could be taken in the budget, so a just and fair election can’t be held then.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress

Though, the Election Commission can ask the government not to announce any SOPs, Opposition wants a gap of about a month before the budget to ensure fairness in the polls.

The budget should not be presented when the elections are on as that will help the government in getting more votes.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress

Advancing the Budget date to 1 February would interfere with the elections as the Modi government could announce certain schemes prior to the elections to influence voters, the Opposition alleged.

Budget should be postponed as elections are close and allegations of trying to appease the public can be levied against the ruling party in this case.

Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena

What Happened When Budget and Polls Clashed in 2012

The norm of presenting the Budget on the last working day of February was tampered with in 2012 by the then UPA government because the date clashed with the state Assembly elections and results.

In 2012, the state election results were declared on 4 and 6 March, due to which the Budget Session of 2012-13 was delayed.

Then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had presented the budget two weeks later on 16 March – well after the poll results – to protect the integrity of the elections.

Opposition Expects NDA to Sway Voters

The Indian Express quoted Congress Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha, Anand Sharma, as saying:

A similar situation had arisen in 2012, when elections were to be held in the same states. And the presentation of Budget, on the demand of the then principal Opposition party, was deferred, respecting the correctness of democratic traditions and the need of fairness of elections. This government, having looted people’s money, will now show some largesse and try to influence electoral verdict. The mandate of the EC is to ensure free and fair elections.

BSP supremo Mayawati also voiced apprehension over the BJP government trying to influence voters through the Union Budget.

The Economic Times quoted Mayawati as saying:

The EC should instruct the central government not to present the general budget on 1 February and just as 2012, it be presented only after the completion of polling on 8 March.

Will the government can reschedule the Budgetary presentation to an earlier date? Quoting the Election Commission, a report in NDTV stated that the Budget date is still under review.

(Source: The Indian Express, The Economic Times)