Election Commission last night gave its nod to the Centre to present the Union Budget on February 1 ahead of the Assembly polls in 5 States. <br/><br/>The Commission, however, said that no schemes related to these poll-bound states can be announced and the Finance Minister's speech should not refer to the government's achievements in these states. <br/><br/>EC told Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha that in the interest of free and fair elections and in order to maintain level playing field, no state-specific schemes shall be announced to influence voters in five poll-bound states. <br/><br/>The Commission also said that in the Finance Minister's speech, the government's achievements in respect of the five states should not be highlighted in any manner.<br/><br/>Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Punjab and Goa will be held between February 4 and March 8.<br/>'<br/>Opposition parties had written to the President and the Election Commission objecting to the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1 ahead of the Assembly elections and demanded that the government be asked to defer it. <br/><br/>Budget session of Parliament has already been convened from January 31 when the President will address the joint sitting of the two Houses. Union Budget and the Economic Survey are slated to be presented the next day.<br/><br/>Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea seeking postponement of Union Budget presentation ahead of the Assembly elections, saying there was no illustration that it will influence voters.