Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Punjab Budget session began on Friday with Governor Gulab Chand Kataria delivering the opening address, highlighting plans to strengthen the state’s health sector. The session, scheduled for 11 days, will feature the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) presenting its fifth and final Budget ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.
During the Governor’s address, Congress MLAs staged a walkout, signalling their objections to the government’s policies and foreshadowing debates on the state’s rising public debt, which has now surpassed ₹4 lakh crore, as well as concerns over law and order.
Finance Minister Harpal Cheema is expected to present the Budget on Sunday, coinciding with International Women’s Day. This marks the first time in Punjab Vidhan Sabha history that the Budget will be presented on a Sunday. Sources said the government is likely to announce a monthly honorarium of ₹1,000 for women, fulfilling a key electoral promise aimed at nearly half of the state’s electorate.
Officials indicated that the Budget is unlikely to include new taxes. The session is expected to focus on showcasing AAP’s welfare initiatives, while the Opposition prepares to question the government on fiscal management and governance challenges.
The 11-day proceedings are anticipated to be marked by lively debates, as both the ruling party and the Opposition use the Budget session to set the stage for the upcoming elections.
