Model code of conduct not violated, says AAP after LoP meets LG

The Delhi government is all set to go ahead with a full-fledged Budget for the next financial year 2017-18 ahead of the municipal elections. However, the Opposition has questioned the move and urged to LG Anil Baijal to forestall it, saying that the government wants to present a populist Budget in order to 'befool' the two crore Delhiites with 'promises of moon'.

It may be mentioned that ahead of the MCD elections in 2007 and 2012, the then Sheila Dikshit-government had chosen to come up with a vote-on-account instead of a full-fledged Budget. While officials admitted that the issue was brought to the notice of the government in meetings related to the Budget, an AAP functionary said the government was likely to go ahead with its plans. "There is nothing wrong in it. The Budget will be passed before the municipal elections are notified and the model code of conduct sets in. We opposed the Central Budget as it was being done when the model code of conduct for five states was already in place," an AAP member said. Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta has said that the same AAP government had left no stone unturned in criticising the decision of the Central government to present the Budget on February 1st and now it is doing the same.

Gupta on Tuesday urged Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to forestall the move of the AAP government to pass a full-fledged Budget for 2017-18 ahead of the MCD elections.

He claimed that the government eyeing on civic polls scheduled to be notified next month wants to present a populist budget in order to 'befool' the two crore Delhities with 'promises of moon'.