Prez summons Budget Session from Jan 31

The Modi government’s plan to advance the presentation of the General Budget will remain unchanged as President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday summoned the Budget Session of Parliament from January 31.

“The President will address both Houses of Parliament assembled together at 11 am on Tuesday, January 31, in the Central Hall, Parliament House, New Delhi,” a Rajya Sabha bulletin issued on Saturday says. The bulletin also intimates members about the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1.

The summoning of the Budget Session is indicative of the President rejecting the plea of 16 Opposition parties to postpone the presentation of the General Budget.

The Opposition had argued that the presentation of the Budget could give the ruling BJP undue advantage in the elections to five states beginning February 4. Earlier in the day, the Election Commission asked the Union government to give its view on some political parties’ demand for deferring the presentation of the Budget in view of the model code of conduct imposed in five poll-bound states.