Bhubaneswar: The budget session of the assembly will commence Thursday with governor Hari Babu Kambhampati’s address, setting the stage for chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi to present his first full-fledged budget on Feb 17.
Sources indicate the budget size may see a 10% increase from last year’s Rs 2.65 lakh crore, driven by enhanced allocations for schemes like Subhadra and an increased paddy bonus of Rs 800 per quintal. The state’s economy is projected to grow between 8% and 8.5%.
Speaker Surama Padhy, who chaired an all-party meeting on Wednesday, announced that the session will have 28 working days, running from Feb 13 to Apr 5, with a mid-session recess from Feb 22 to Mar 6.
Opposition parties BJD and Congress have indicated they will raise issues of crimes, price rise, and unemployment during the session. The speaker expressed hope for a productive session, even as the opposition parties are getting ready to corner the govt on various issues.
Deputy leader of opposition and BJD MLA Prasanna Acharya said people are feeling unsafe under this govt with too many cases of rape, murder, loot, and dacoity on a daily basis, for which BJD would seek an answer from the govt. “While govt is trying to take credit for paying bonus in paddy purchase, a substantial amount is being deducted in the name of poor quality of paddy while it is being purchased from farmers,” Acharya said.
Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam has vowed to hold the govt accountable on several key issues during the upcoming session. “As a responsible opposition, we will address the deteriorating law and order situation, the exploitation of paddy farmers by middlemen, and the govt’s unfulfilled promise to compensate chit fund victims,” Kadam said.
The Congress legislature party leader also criticised the govt over the floodlight failure in Barabati Stadium during the India-England ODI match.
Parliamentary affairs minister Mukesh Mahaling hoped the session would run smoothly. “The all-party meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere under the chairpersonship of the speaker. I am sure the opposition will play its constructive role during the prolonged session,” Mahaling said.
In preparation for the upcoming session, police have implemented enhanced security measures across the area. Director General of Police Y B Khurania conducted a comprehensive review of the security arrangements. According to police sources, approximately 30 platoons of forces will be deployed, along with around 100 senior officers, to ensure thorough protection and maintain law and order during the session.