The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature is expected to meet in early February to set the agenda for the budget session, scheduled for the first week of March.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has approved a proposal from the Council of Ministers, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, to open the session with his formal address. This will be the first annual budget of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislature since the region became a Union Territory in 2019.
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Chief Minister Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio, is expected to present the budget. He recently stated that government funds were running low but hinted at financial support from the Centre. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had assured assistance, similar to what was provided to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather is likely to convene the BAC next week to finalise the schedule for budget discussions, grant allocations, and other legislative matters.
As Ramadan falls during the session, some legislators have suggested shortening its duration. People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone has also voiced concerns, saying that holding the session during Ramadan would be inconvenient for most MLAs.
“A humble reminder to the elected government: It is Ramadan in March. Holding the Assembly session in March would be inconvenient for a majority of MLAs,” Lone posted on X.
The final decision on the session’s duration rests with the BAC, which includes members from both the ruling and opposition parties. Reports suggest the Council of Ministers has proposed a three-week session.
The budget is expected to focus on key sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, which are vital for the region’s development. Observers will closely watch how the government allocates funds to address public priorities.
