After the Parliament winter session was washed away with the opposition’s confrontation attitude against the government move on demonetisation, they are seems to be heading for another showdown during forthcoming budget session, this time over the government’s decision to advance the Union budget.
The Cabinet Committee on political affairs (CCPA) has already recommended advancing the Budget Session for three weeks and to start from January 31, so that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present budget on February 1. The Budget Session usually begins in the third week of February, with the Budget being presented on February 28.
As many as 16 opposition parties, including the Congress, have written to President Pranab Mukherjee and to the Chief Election Commissioner claiming that the move to advance the Budget is an attempt to influence the assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh.
In their joint letter sent earlier this week, the Opposition parties have questioned the government’s intent, saying the government could announce populist schemes in the middle of the election campaign in order to influence voters. Stating that this would come in the way of free and fair elections, the parties have said the government should be stopped from advancing the Budget Session.
In this regard, they are remembering the track record of UPA government, which had deferred the Union Budget to March 16 in 2012, when the same five states went to polls. Among those who have signed the letter are Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, CPM’s Sitaram Yechury, SP’s Ram Gopal Yadav and JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav.
