Haryana's Budget to be Presented on March 13, One Day Before Holi Festival

The Haryana government has announced that the state's annual budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be presented on March 13, just one day before the Holi festival. Chief Minister Nayab Saini, who also holds the finance portfolio, will present his first budget since taking office.

The budget session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly is scheduled to begin on March 7 and will continue until March 25, spanning a total of 19 days with several breaks for weekends and the Holi festival. 

Governor's Address to Set the Tone

The session will commence on March 7 with Governor Bandaru Dattatreya addressing the House. The Governor's speech will outline the government's roadmap, highlighting achievements of the current administration and future plans for the state's development.

Following the Governor's address, the Assembly will adjourn for the weekend of March 8-9. When it reconvenes on March 10, members will begin discussions on the Governor's speech, which will continue through March 11. On March 12, Chief Minister Saini will respond to points raised during the discussion on the Governor's address, followed by the passing of a vote of thanks. On the same day, the government will also present and seek approval for supplementary budget estimates for various departments. 

Budget Presentation and Holi Break 

The highlight of the session will come on March 13 when Chief Minister Nayab Saini presents the state budget. This will be his first budget presentation as Finance Minister since taking charge of the government. The Assembly will then adjourn for a three-day break for the Holi festival. When it reconvenes on March 17, discussions on the budget will begin and continue through March 18. 

Final Phase and Legislative Business 

Following the budget discussions, the Assembly will remain adjourned from March 19 to March 23, including the weekend. On March 24, the Chief Minister will address questions raised during the budget debate, and the budget is expected to be passed on the same day. 

The final day of the session, March 25, will be dedicated to legislative business, with several important bills scheduled to be introduced and passed before the House adjourns. 

Congress May Continue Without Leader of Opposition 

Political observers note that the Congress party might continue without an officially recognized Leader of Opposition during this session. While the detailed schedule of the budget session will be finalized during the Business Advisory Committee meeting, the government has already prepared an alternative timeline and agenda.