New Delhi, Jan 4 (IANS): The union budget for 2012-13 would be presented after March 9 following the state assembly elections but no dates have been finalised, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Wednesday.

"We are working out the dates. We will present the budget after assembly election is over. (The model) code of conduct will be operational until March 9," Mukherjee told reporters here.

The general budget is usually presented on the last day of February every year.

The union budget is set to be delayed at least by a fortnight due to assembly elections in five states.

As March 10-11 is a weekend, the budget session is likely to begin from March 12.

The general budget is preceded by the railway budget and the economic survey. So the general budget could be presented only after March 15.

Assembly polls in five states -- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur -- are scheduled to take place between Jan 28 and March 3. Counting will take place March 4 and the code of conduct will end March 9.