New Delhi: Terming the Interim Budget as a "poll gimmick", the Opposition today (Feb 3, 2004) blasted the Government for "doling out lollypops" to woo voters in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Apprehending that so many populist measures announced in the vote-on-account would only result in increasing the deficit in the next Budget, they felt the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party)-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) Government was making its last ditch effort to come back to power.

"The Budget has proved to be an anti-climax as it does not contain anything for the poor. There is nothing for farmers and the unemployed. It was all the more disappointing as people had expected rise in IT (Income Tax) exemption limit," Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy said.

His party colleague and deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Shivraj Patil said, "This is a Budget for the election and not for the people."

RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal) leader Laloo Prasad Yadav said the Budget had been drafted keeping the Lok Sabha elections in mind as the ruling coalition at the Centre was panicky that it might not return to power. "That is why it is doling out lollypops to woo voters," he said.

BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party) leader Rashid Alvi, while describing the Budget as a poll gimmick, said it was aimed to mislead voters and feared that it would only increase the deficit in the next Budget.

Disagreeing with Opposition leaders, BJP spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the Budget was an example of "India Shining" and added it would give a further boost to the feel good factor.