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Budget 2025: The Election Commission closely monitors all major announcements during the election period.
The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect when the Election Commission announces the election schedule (Photo: PTI)
Delhi Elections 2025: The Union Budget is scheduled to be presented on February 1, 2025. However, when elections are scheduled in certain states, like Delhi in 2025, the government is typically cautious about announcing major policy changes or financial benefits during the election period.
Delhi, governed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), may or may not perceive any significant announcements as efforts to counter AAP’s initiatives, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) potentially leveraging its national governance strengths.
When announcing the dates for the Delhi elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar emphasised that the Election Commission of India (ECI) would issue a standing instruction to the Cabinet Secretary, ensuring that no Delhi-specific provisions are included in the Union Budget. This is due to the proximity of the Budget presentation on February 1 and the Delhi elections scheduled for February 5.
What Election Commission of India Said?
In response to questions about whether the Centre could announce schemes aimed at Delhi to potentially influence voters, Kumar clarified that no Delhi-specific announcements would be made until after the elections. He stated, “We will write to the Cabinet Secretary that no Delhi-specific provisions can be made in the Union Budget that could disturb the level playing field.”
This directive aims to ensure a level playing field for all political parties, preventing the ruling party at the national level from using the Union Budget to gain an electoral advantage in Delhi.
Will Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Announce Delhi-Specific Schemes?
The key question now is whether Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce schemes targeted specifically at Delhi voters ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025. However, there are several factors that suggest announcing such measures may not be straightforward.
Model Code of Conduct (MCC): The Model Code of Conduct comes into effect when the Election Commission announces the election schedule. Delhi is going through this phase. It restricts the government from making policy announcements that could influence the electorate or sway voting behavior. This is to ensure free and fair elections, preventing any political party (especially the ruling one) from using government power to gain electoral advantage.
Avoiding Electioneering through the Budget: The government cannot make populist announcements that might be perceived as vote-buying or using state resources to woo voters. For example, announcing welfare schemes or financial incentives specifically for a state going to the polls can be seen as an attempt to sway public opinion in favor of the ruling party.
Election Commission’s Scrutiny: The Election Commission closely monitors all major announcements during the election period to ensure there is no undue influence on voters. Even if the Union Budget includes state-specific provisions, they need to be carefully worded and must not directly target election-bound states in a way that could be interpreted as electioneering.
Timing and Impact: Announcing major policy changes that could have immediate financial implications might be seen as a form of manipulation if done just before an election. For example, announcing subsidies or tax reliefs that directly benefit voters in the election-bound state could lead to accusations of favoritism.
To address these concerns, governments often avoid making any specific or localised announcements that could be interpreted as electioneering, focusing on broader, nationwide policies that comply with the guidelines of the Model Code of Conduct.
