Assam Assembly’s Budget Session starts on stormy note

After reading for just three minutes of his 88-page speech, Kataria had to jump to the last paragraph as an unrelenting opposition, comprising Congress, CPI(M) and Independent MLAs, continued to disrupt his address to the House, where the annual Budget for 2024-25 will be presented on February 12.

The session kicked off with the customary address by the Governor, setting the stage for the upcoming deliberation.

However, the house was adjourned for 45 minutes after the opposition Congress party created a ruckus and displayed placards demanding attention on key issues.

State Finance Minister Ajanta Neog will be presenting the Assam Budget for 2024-25 will be tabled on February 12 in the assembly during the budget session which is scheduled to go on till February 28.

Ajanta Neog, who represents the Golaghat assembly seat, had earlier vowed that this year’s state budget will be “realistic”. She will be presenting her fourth consecutive budget under the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government of Assam.

Notably, 12 bills are slated for introduction during the session. Among the proposed bills, the focus will be on the introduction of two new bills under the domains of the tourism and education departments, indicating a strategic focus on key sectors for development and reform.

These legislative initiatives aim to address critical aspects of these sectors, fostering growth and progress. February 8 will witness the voting on supplementary demands for approval for the fiscal year 2023–24. Following the presentation of the budget on February 12, the assembly is slated to engage in thorough discussions on February 13 and 14.

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that the Assam Polygamy Ban Bill will be introduced in the current assembly session.

In addition to this, the Assam Tourism (Development and Registration) Bill, 2024, along with a number of new and amendment bills, will be introduced during the budget session.