The Centre has convened an all-party meet today ahead of the Union Budget The Trinamool Congress, which has been vocal against demonetisation, has said last week that it will skip the pre-budget meet, being held in New Delhi.

Confirming the party's absence, spokesperson Derek O' Brien said the TMC will not to attend Parliament on February 1 when the Budget is to be presented and cited Saraswati Puja as the reason.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has directed all party MPs to attend a meeting at her Kalighat residence instead, and is likely to chart out a road-map for the session from February 1 to February 9. Trinamool spokesperson Derek O'Brien said, "Trinamool chairperson Mamata Banerjee will chair a meeting of party MPs at the party office in Kalighat on Monday, January 30 at 12.30pm."


The all-party meeting will be held today to seek the opposition's support for a smooth conduct of proceedings in both the houses of Parliament. A similar meeting has been convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.


Sixteen opposition parties had this month moved the Election Commission urging the poll body to ask the government to present the Budget 2017 after the assembly elections in five states of Goa, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Goa.


File pic. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley