The Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said that the Union Budget will be presented after the completion of elections in five States. However, the date is yet to be finalised.

“We have not yet decided the time (for the Budget), but naturally it will be after the elections,” Mr Mukherjee told reporters. 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, the last day of polling will take place on March 3 in Goa and counting of votes for all five States will begin on March 4.

The general Budget is usually presented on the last day of February every year.

Meanwhile, despite the possibility of rescheduling the Budget, the Finance Ministry is preparing the Budget as usual. In this regard, Mr Mukherjee will hold consultation with various stakeholders during his annual pre-budget meetings beginning January 11.

>Shishir.s@thehindu.co.in

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