New Delhi [India], Jan 25 (NT): Ahead of the Union Budget Session, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called for an all-party meeting on January 28.

The first Budget Session of the Parliament is programmed to begin on January 29.

The first session is programmed from January 29 to February 9, while the second session will be scheduled from March 5 to April 6, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar.

Meanwhile, the Budget will be presented on February 1 by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

This will be the last full-fledged budget that will be presented by the Narendra Modi-led Union Government ahead of general election 2019.

The first half of the session will be a short event and will end on February 9 as it is being held in the middle of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa.

A shorter first part will facilitate parties to focus on electioneering. The second half of the session will commence on March 8 and will finish off on April 12.

 As per reports, sixteen opposition parties had this month moved the Election Commission demanding the government to present the Union Budget after the elections are over on March 8 so that it is not used as a tool by the NDA to manipulate voters in the five states.

While the Supreme Court on Monday said no to give any directions to the government in this regard, the Commission’s assessment is long awaited. (NT)