JNM Special | Assembly Report
Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
The 27-day budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly began on Monday. This session is expected to be a stormy one, as the opposition, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is poised to pressurize the National Conference (NC) government on several key issues.
The most likely issues to be discussed during the session include the regularization of daily wage laborers, the government’s overall performance since the last budget, its achievements, and the demand for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The opposition is preparing to corner the government on all these issues.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds the charge of the Finance Department, will present the budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Assembly on February 6th. A supplementary statement on expenditure for the year 2025-26 will also be tabled in the House. This will be the second budget of the Omar Abdullah government after assuming office on October 16, 2024, and all eyes are on it.
On the first day of the budget session, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will address the Assembly. The focus is expected to be on the government’s policies, priorities, and future direction. The Assembly Secretariat stated that all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure the smooth conduct of the session and effective use of time.
Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather held meetings with relevant officials to finalize security and administrative arrangements before the session. He stated that media personnel were briefed on the House proceedings and their demands were also considered. The Speaker stated that the media’s role is important, but the smooth functioning of the House must be paramount. Speaker Rather also informed that an all-party meeting was held on Friday, attended by representatives from all major political parties.
The meeting discussed how to make the session more useful and result-oriented for the public. Additionally, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) has played a key role in finalizing the session’s schedule. The provisional Assembly calendar will be finalized and presented to the House along with the BAC’s report. Emphasizing optimal utilization of time, the Speaker stated that the Assembly will primarily function in double-shift mode. He urged members to effectively utilize Question Hour and ask meaningful questions. He also urged the government to come to the House fully prepared and provide clear and concrete answers to members.
Elaborating on the opposition’s role, Speaker Rathar stated that while it is the opposition’s constitutional responsibility to monitor the government and ensure accountability, criticism must be constructive and based on concrete facts so that the House’s proceedings can move forward in a positive direction. According to the Assembly calendar released by the Speaker, the Budget Session will conclude on April 4th and will be held in three phases. The first phase will be held before the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, while the second and third phases will be held after Eid al-Fitr in March and April. Ramadan is expected to begin on February 18th or 19th, depending on the sighting of the moon. The Assembly will function for five days in March and four days in April.
Overall, this Budget Session will not only be a platform for the government to present its policies and plans, but also an opportunity for the opposition to severely test the government’s functioning.
