Elections are to be held between February 4 and March 8 in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Punjab and Goa.
The Election Commission on Monday directed the Central government not to announce schemes specific to poll-bound States in the Union Budget.
Elections are to be held between February 4 and March 8 in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Punjab and Goa.
“It may be ensured that in the Budget speech, the government’s achievements in respect of the said five States [Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Manipur and Uttarakhand] will also not be highlighted in any manner,” said an EC order.
The Commission cited a 2009 advisory to all the States and Union Territories on the introduction of the Budget (2009-10) in which it had advised that in cases of poll-going States, a vote-on-account should be taken.
The Election Commission said the government should maintain a level playing field and not announce any programme that would have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the ruling party(ies).
On January 5, a delegation of Opposition parties petitioned the Commission seeking a recommendation to the Centre to defer the Budget presentation.
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