Odisha Assembly Speaker Convenes All-party Meet ahead of Budget Session

Bhubaneswar: Speaker Surama Padhy on Monday chaired an all-party meeting, urging members from the treasury as well as opposition benches to extend cooperation for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the upcoming Budget Session beginning Tuesday.

Among those present were Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mukesh Mahaling, Biju Janata Dal Chief Whip Pramila Mallik, and Indian National Congress Legislature Party leader Rama Chandra Kadam, besides several senior legislators.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Mahaling said there was a unanimous view that proceedings of the House should be orderly and run in accordance with established rules and listed business.

The session will open with the address of Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Tuesday. The Chief Minister is scheduled to present the annual Budget for the 2026–27 financial year on February 20.

After discussions on the demands for grants for 14 days, the Appropriation Bill relating to the Budget will be taken up on March 31. Official sources said the sixth session of the 17th Assembly is slated to conclude on April 8.

The Budget Session will be conducted in two phases with a total of 28 working days. Following the Governor’s address, the House will debate the Motion of Thanks till February 19.

Meanwhile, opposition parties indicated that they would raise key issues, including farmers’ distress and the state’s position on Kotia, to corner the government.

BJD Chief Whip Pramila Mallik said her party would highlight problems such as delay in paddy lifting and the alleged practice of katni chhatni during procurement. Kadam, on the other hand, said the Congress would finalise its strategy after a meeting of its MLAs later in the evening.