GUWAHATI, Feb 16: The Assam Assembly budget session commenced on Monday, marking the final legislative sitting of the present government before the state heads into Assembly elections expected in March–April.
The four day session began with the customary address by Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, outlining the administration’s priorities and setting the tone for proceedings. With elections around the corner, the government will refrain from presenting a full-fledged budget.
Instead, Finance Minister Ajanta Neog is scheduled to introduce a Vote on Account on February 17. The interim financial measure will enable the state to meet essential expenditures during the initial months of the new fiscal year until a new government is formed and presents a comprehensive budget.
The session assumes added political importance as it represents the last opportunity for the ruling dispensation and the Opposition to stake their claims before voters across the state’s 126 constituencies.
In the current House, the Bharatiya Janata Party holds 64 seats. Its allies the Asom Gana Parishad, United People’s Party Liberal and Bodoland People’s Front have nine, seven and three members respectively.
On the Opposition benches, the Indian National Congress has 26 legislators, followed by the All India United Democratic Front with 15. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has one member, alongside an Independent MLA.
With campaigning set to intensify in the coming weeks, the brief sitting is expected to witness pointed exchanges as parties position themselves ahead of the electoral contest.