Congress makes Budget its election agenda

New Delhi: A day after Finance Minister, P Chidambaram presented the Union Budget, it's political contours are now more or less clear.

The Congress appears to be going into poll mode and the 'please all' Budget seems to be just the kind of medicine the party had been asking for after its string of recent electoral losses.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is in Nagaland on Saturday, where she is expected to make the Budget, the focus at an election rally.

In New Delhi, Rahul Gandhi will meet the Congress Future Challenges Group to figure out ways of making the Budget the Congress's main election issue.

Next week, Rahul will visit the poorest areas of Orissa to highlight the Budget. However, UPA allies DMK and RJD are not comfortable with early election.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders are hailing the Budget, saying it has created the right mood among the electorate.

AICC General Secretary, V Narayanswami says, "We promised in the previous elections that this Government is for the common man. This budget is for all sections of the society. This is basically a rural Budget, many policies are announced for rural areas and farmers."

Significantly, the Left — which has threatened to end its marriage with the Government over the Indo-US Nuclear Deal — is also sensing early elections post the Union Budget.

''The only thing he (Chidambaram) did not announce was the election dates. This is an election Budget," said CPI leader, Gurudas Dasgupta.