Union Budget after state polls: Pranab

The announcement of the Assembly election schedule in five states between January 30 and March 3 has raised the possibility of rescheduling of the Budget for 2012-13 this year. As per the schedule worked out by the Election Commission, last polling will take place on March 3 in Goa and counting of votes will begin on March 4. The general budget is usually presented on the last day of February every year.

Mukherjee will hold brainstorming sessions with various stakeholders during his annual pre-budget meetings beginning January 11. The first meeting would be held with agriculturalists, followed by a series of interactions with sectoral experts, representatives, industry captains and economists over the next ten days to get their feedback and inputs for incorporating them in Budget 2012-13.